I've got a 2000 durango with about 60000 miles. I have two issues that maybe somebody can help me with.
1. Noise from the front suspension when I hit a bump or just drive into the driveway. It's not the ball joints, I had that done a long time ago. This noise started shortly after I got the vehicle and only disappears for a short time after I run it through a car wash. If anybody knows how to silence this annoying sound please provide details.
2. I've had the rotors turned twice and it feels like I might have to do it again. Same set of brakes and very few miles (6000?) since the rotors were turned the last time. I don't remember another vehicle that has required the rotors to be turned so often. Any advice or insight would be appreciated.

 

1. check and lube the anti-sway bar bushings. Mine did the same thing. Noise goes away only when the under carriage gets wet from rain or car wash. But when it dries, squeaks and noises come back.

2. It may be the pads that is eating up the rotors? I don't use my brakes much. I recently changed my pads at 70k because the material on the pads was not giving me any breaking power. Sometimes, the breaks will slip lose on me during hard breaking!!! Very scary when it does that. No front ABS to help either. I only had 50 percent of the original oem pads left. My rotors were still in good shape. My mechanic recommended me to change to ceramic pads. Ceramic pads cost alot more, but they have great braking grip and do not wear out the rotors like the oem metallic pads do. Also, with ceramic pads, you don't get that black dusting on your RIM's. My RIM's are super clean inside/out. With the new ceramic pads, I feel I got a brand new braking system. Stops on a dime without too much effort on the pedal. I think I paid close to $100 bucks for a pair of ceramic pads for the 2000 Durango. These pads will problaby outlast my Durango.

 

Thanks for the insight. I lubed the anti-sway bar bushings and that took care of the squeek.

The rotor issues began shortly after I purchased new brakes. I got the ceramic brake pads and I thought that the ceramic pads might be the cause of the rotor wear. I still get some dust on the rims so I need to take a closer look at those pads.

 

I still get some dusting, but it is very easy to clean off, it looks more like grey dust. But better than the black dust that is a pain in the butt to get off without alot of scrubbing!

 

top_dog

I had the exact same problem on my D. I tried everything and finally found the most stupidest thing. The rear automatic adjusters were bad causing the front to do all the work. The rear shoes where not adjusting out to cover the wear of the shoes. Replaced the auto adjusters and problem solved. The problem is the dowel on the shoe were the adjusters pivot is too big and allows for side to side movement which causes the tooth on the auto adjusters to wear off and not grab the adjustment screw. Looked like a manufactures flaw. Bought the full set from NAPA for $15 bucks a side. Remember to change out the dowel. You will see the difference in the openings.

You have to grind the back of the dowel off and drill the hole a small bit bigger and hammer the new dowel in. Make sure you look at the touching surface between the adjusters and the adjusting screw very carefully. The adjuster is not supposed to come out towards you that far. The new ones pivot perfectly.