Here I am again, with my week long tune up at 50k. I've got another question for all you well informed guys on here!

I went to Advance Auto parts website and looked up brake pads for my truck. There are 2 types I'm looking at, both are semi metallic OE replacements.

I have an 04 3.7L, with 2 front disc brakes.

The company is Wearever, and they offer a silver, and a Gold. I was gonna get the gold, but just wondering what you guys think and if you've ever heard of this company?

Does 33 bucks for front brake pads sound too cheap?

And also, how do I inspect my rotors to make sure they dont need machining?

Thanks

Jim

 

ive used wearever, i killed them off too quick when they were on my sedan. the semi metalliccs are what give you brake dust. ceramics cut down on break dust by a long shot. napa tru stops are decent.

 

I would use the brand called "green stuff" they make pads that are suppost to be the best, im about to replace my front rotors and pads for the 3rd time in 2 years... its getting old. So im upgrading to slotted rotors and green stuff pads and maybe some brembo calipers not sure yet.

as for checking the rotors you need a special tool that reads whats left and how much you can cut.

but if you dont have that tool, look at these 4 things.

1.Big Lip
2.Cracks
3.Hot spots
4.Glossy

1. if it has a large lip on the outside that means the rotor is worn down very low and should be replaced.

2. If it has large heat cracks, and not a huge lip you MIGHT be able to cut the cracks out, but more then likey it cracked because its wrapped or heat... so usually i would replace.

3. Hot spots can be cut out as long as its not warped.

4.Glossy just means it needs to be turned/cut, as long as it has enough left to cut.

If it has a large lip, heat cracks and hot spots.. you need new rotors and maybe calipers

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys, so I should probably go ceramic then?

How common is it to need new rotors? Ive got 51k on the dakota, after I inspect them I "should" have a better idea if I need new rotors or not, but just wondering how often people need new rotors when changing brake pads?

Is it more common than not?

Jim

 

I had a tire shop replace my front pads around 50K and the rotors were just shy of being too thin so I had them replace the rotors too while they were at it. I don't know the brand they used but they are good quality parts. I had then do a complete flush and refill on the brake fluid too.

I have heard here and on other Dakota boards the OE rotors and pads are not very good and don't last very long. Some had to be replaced as early as 20K. I have almost 50k on these new ones and the only trouble I have had was a squealing that developed about a year ago. I took the pads off and put some disc brake quiet compound on them and have been trouble-free ever since. I checked my rear brakes myself the other day and they looked good too. My truck has really good brakes.

Jimmy

 

yea my truck got its first set of brakes at like 40k (but it gets almost all city driving) while my dads got its first set at about 55k (he does abut 50/50 split city highway) and his old dak had 120k on it and still had the origional pads on it so it depends on what kind of drivign you do and how hard you are on the brakes as well as a bunch of other stuff

 

Well I just checked my rotors and its very very "hilly". I guess I need to get them machined....

Jim

 

i just got new pad and rotors in the mail from summit, ill be changnig them this weekend. heres the links:

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...0&autoview=sku


http://store.summitracing.com/partde...0&autoview=sku




although if you wanted THE BEST stopping performance, you should just do a viper conversion............

 

Well I put on Ceramics today, and had to get my rotors machined. It was 40 bucks to get the rotors machined and like 130 for new rotors.

Hope the ceramics hold up well. Ive never done a brake job before, so it was a learning experience. But I had fun, and now I have new brakes!

Thanks for the tips guys

Jim

 

when you change your brake pads you should always change or get your rotors machined if they have enough meat on them, so you have a good surface for the new pads to bond to.