Disc brake pads

[gassernomore]

Hello everyone, Just trying to see how many monthes your getting out of your disc brake pads. I put new calipers and pads on in March of 09 and now I have to do it again! I guess when your trying to stop a 7400lb truck it goes thru them! It doesn't help that I live in an area that has a ton of hills, valleys, and curves!

[Mopar1973Man]

159K miles and still running factory brake pads... No joke! :eek: Exhaust brakes do there job and save the brake pads quite a bit... Even worse I'll do my first brake job at roughly 200K miles and 10 years old! I drag trailers and haul heavy... Every year I haul about 12-15 cords of firewood down from the mountains at a elevation of 7K to 8K feet...

[guesswho512]

my 99 has drums on the back, but i was going thru pads on the front very often(2-3months0. after i put 2 new rotors on(140 each at local orielly's) i haven't changed them since. that was at least 18months ago

[Wild and Free]

I have always averaged around 80-100k on front pads and way more on rears, heck I don't think I have ever changed the rears on most of my vehicles. Man you need to slow down a bit.:p

[gassernomore]

Man you need to slow down a bit.:p

Actually, just filled up and my ScanGauge says my avg mph for the last tank was 34! Its all of my hills and curves! Before I moved here I had gone over 30,000 on the pads.

[Mopar1973Man]

Don't try that game with me... I'm a guru of the SG II...I pull simular numbers with cruise set at about 55-65 MPH because all the city streets in Idaho are 25 MPH or less! :rolleyes2:

[guesswho512]

i just realized that about 24 months ago i pulled heavy trailers on a daily...now its mostly empty

[gassernomore]

Don't try that game with me... I'm a guru of the SG II...I pull simular numbers with cruise set at about 55-65 MPH because all the city streets in Idaho are 25 MPH or less! :rolleyes2:

Doesn't hurt to try!:biggrin:

[ISX]

You have an auto so I would expect a little more brake wear. I assume it acts like it's in neutral when you let off to slow down for a stoplight, instead of staying locked and dragging you down like a manual does. Not sure if yours is like that or not, never drove an auto cummins. I always leave it in 4th gear and let off and that will get me down to 25mph, then I hit the brakes. Never changed a brake pad on mine, had it for 70k now.

Edited December 16, 2009 by ISX

[edcasey]

Wow...that's a lot of brake wear. It sounds like something is really wrong. I do nothing but winding mountain roads and city driving with 2000 pounds of tools and equipment in the back of my truck. I changed the pads 2 years ago and they still look like new. Maybe your rotors are tearing up the pads?

[gassernomore]

I put new calipers on it last March. The pads looked even in their wear. Changed out the brake fluid when I put new calipers on. Where I live it is a 8% grade to the bottom of the hill, about 2 1/2 miles. Don't even give it any fuel until I get to the stop sign! Without braking in that distance I can get up to 60 mph! Most of my trips are only 15 miles round trip, so lots of stop and go. I don't think there is anything wrong with the truck, its just my particular circumstances. :confused:

[edcasey]

Wow! It sounds like we live in nearly the same place. My town is at the top of a mountain in the Berkshires (think Norman Rockwell). It's about 12 miles of almost all down hill to get out of the mountains. The last stretch (about 1 1/2 miles) is the only really straight part and is steep enough to have a run-away truck ramp. Strange. I'm not sure why my brakes hold up better than yours. I have a contractors cap and always have at least 2000 pounds in it. Sounds like you have replaced everything. I'm stumped.

[gassernomore]

I am starting to wonder if I was given the wrong type of brake pads as far as in the make up of the pad?

[Howie67]

Is there any thread on the type brand of pads? Perhaps some perform better than others?

[guesswho512]

well one time in a crunch i bought the 8.99 from autozone. they typically have 3 tiers, and this is the lowest. they seemed to wear quicker, but i was towing heavy with no trailer brakes or jake. the kicker was there is no "squeaker" on the inner pad...before i knew it the rotor was unturnable!