Fiftygrit

I wonder who the brain`s were behind, putting 13/16 inch bolts on the back calipers and 18 milimeter bolts on the front calipers, the 18mm was the only wrench and socket I didnt have, that cost me $20 bucks. 47,560 miles and the shoes were shot, about 30,000 of that was towing, so all done, pretty easy when ya have the right tools, rotor`s were still great. Just venting slightly.

rockcrawler304

Are you using a trailer brake? That seems like very low miles to be replaceing brakes. I've got about 71k miles and will probably go to 100k before needing to replace.

Fiftygrit

Yup I have a good trailer brake, I only tow around 9500lbs. the pads were down to the ware pad, the squeeler tab. Live in the mountains though in Northern BC just below the southern tip of Alaska so lots of curvy road and hills to climb, after reading everyone getting lots of miles out of there brakes I thought mine should last longer also.

tool

I'm going to do mine this weekend for the first time at about 131,000 miles.

Including LOTS of heavy towing.

Fiftygrit

Maybe the Mexicans put crappy brakes on the trucks that came to Canada, my back ones were the worst, the front ones were worn about half way, could of left them, but did them all at the same time.

rockcrawler304

That is probably the reason right there. I guess I do mostly flat or flatter land driving.

alboy

50000 miles on the front ,replaced,backs were fine,lots of mountain towing,pac brake going on,2nd set of fiver brakes replaced as well.

TonyB

I would install an exhaust brake. I'd go for pac brake...I agree with their design more than Jake. The pressure relief works to give more low speed braking, whereas the Jake orifice bleeds off too much pressure at low engine speeds. It still works fine; I just think the pacbrake is a better design.

BTW...45k miles and no need to touch the factory brakes. But I don't tow much, and use the jake all the time.

Tony

Tony

BigIron70

If you're not machining rotors no need to take those bolts out anyway. They are also called pads and not shoes. You should only remove part 3 caliper and not part 2 the caliper bracket. That only requires a 13mm wrench or socket.