New front Brakes Question

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Fake-Account27

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Truck has 40,000 miles, but at least 15k of that is towing a travel trailer. I started to get an intermittent squeak from the brakes so I am going to replace the pads.

Does everone replace the rotors at the same time typically? That's what I have always done with previous vehicles, but these pads look like their a pain to take off based in the videos I have watched.
 

audiophile

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Might as well. If you pull often, I recommend Power Stop Z36. Comes with pads and slotted rotors. They are designed for trucks that tow. I put them on the rears already and fronts are next. I don't think they are too difficult. I did the rears by myself in a couple of hours.

These are for my 2016 but you should be able to find the set for yours.

Power Stop K2163-36 Front Z36 Truck & Tow Brake Kit, Carbon Fiber Ceramic Brake Pads and Drilled/Slotted Brake Rotors https://a.co/d/6I1ie60
 

Livinalittle

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If you don’t like doing regular brake services I would steer clear of drilled and slotted. They produce a lot more brake dust.

I would definitely replace the rotors with the pads; Power stop makes great quality.

I finally got tired of the brake dust and went to a set of Brembo’s, so far I’m pretty happy with them.
 

caulk04

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Drilled and slotted rotors are unnecessary for 99% of truck owners. Just get a good quality name brand rotor. They also don't create any more dust. Stick to ceramic pads to minimize dust.

Brake job on these trucks isn't any more difficult than anything else. I've had mine apart a couple times to clean and re grease for squeaks, but there's still plenty of pad left at 65k. I'll likely wait till next summer for brakes.
 

crash68

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started to get an intermittent squeak from the brakes so I am going to replace the pads.
Are the pads even worn down? Doesn't mean they're bad needing replacement and 40K miles isn't a lot. Towing shouldn't take excessive life out of the brake pads unless there's problems with the trailer brakes not working properly.
 

BadHemi2014

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I'm personally a huge fan of the power stop kits, I have them on my Ram, my Beetle, and our Lincoln. Drilled and slotted rotors might not be absolutely necessary, but I sure can't argue with their superior performance. I have almost no brake dust with these brakes as well. The Lincoln has solid rotors and I wish I'd put the drilled/ slotted on it.
Brake job on my Ram was not difficult, but if you do replace rotors the caliper bolt is a b***h to get off.
 

Rlaf75

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Just an FYI, an intermittent squeak doesn't necessarily mean the pads are bad. Take the time to inspect the brakes. Also, slotted rotors will not make more brake dust. The brake pad material is what generates the dust. As far as replacing the rotors is concerned, you don't have to replace them if you aren't getting any pulsation but it definitely wouldn't hurt to replace them since you're 2/3rds of the way there already if you're doing them yourself. I have used slotted rotors (not drilled) with ceramic pads on my 11 ram and they were dust free and stopped great even with my 7x11 enclosed trailer on the back.
 

MMM

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I've been buying Power Stop coated rotors and pads for both my RAM and my wife's Rogue.
I don't bother with slotted or drilled.
I've been pretty happy.
I had once bought AAP coated rotors and brakes, they never stopped squeaking, never again with those.
 

1 MEAN66

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Are the pads even worn down? Doesn't mean they're bad needing replacement and 40K miles isn't a lot. Towing shouldn't take excessive life out of the brake pads unless there's problems with the trailer brakes not working properly.
Good point! , look at the pads first, Remember most driving is done while pulling under power of cruising - Not braking whether your are towing or not.
 

canadiankodiak700

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Do a good visual inspection of your brakes before ordering any parts. I just did the brakes on my 2019 Ram, they were grinding bad at 80,000 km. I was certain I had worn the pads down to absolutely nothing, but very surprised when I pulled the wheels off only to find the pads still had over half left but the rotors were chewed up really bad, Worn in very deep. The full metallic pads that they use combined with the cheap metal rotors on vehicles nowadays means the rotors tend to go before the pads. Apparently this isn't just a RAM thing, the mechanics at work who do some work on the side in their own garage said they are finding this with a lot of the new trucks Chev Ford Toyota all of them, rotors are wearing out before pads.
 

Jeepwalker

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If the pads have like 1/2 of their life left, I would lay some 80 grit sandpaper on the concrete and run the pads over the sandpaper to run the 'glaze' off them...put them back in. Make sure they slide freely in their 'bosses'. If they don't clean/file the area so they slide freely.
 

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