Uncle Damo
Member
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2014
- Posts
- 37
- Reaction score
- 29
- Ram Year
- 2014
- Engine
- Hemi 5.7
I've used this truck and trailer combo together about 6k miles over the last couple years with no issues whatsoever until yesterday. Towing my toyhauler loaded up to approx 8500#, and on a route I've towed multiple times. Was following another guy towing down a 10 minute curvy grade who was going slower than normal, so I may have been on the service brakes a bit more than usual, but was also manually using the trailer brakes as I normally do. Toward the bottom of the grade I started smelling the brakes, figured it was someone in front of me since my truck's never had any issues and this was not an extreme situation. Then the pedal got soft, and by the time we were at the bottom it took all my strength into the pedal to approach a stop. We stopped and let it cool for 5 minutes at the bottom and for the remainder of the trip on the flats the power and feel were back to normal, strong power and firm pedal feel.
A few months back I replaced the stock front rotors and pads since they were warped at 55k miles. Power and feel was always fine with the stockers. For replacements I used "Power Stop K2163-36 Front Z36 Truck & Tow Brake Kit, Carbon Fiber Ceramic Brake Pads and Drilled/Slotted Brake Rotors" which had very good reviews. Initial impressions, and first two tows with them were very impressive. Felt at least as good as stock and possibly a bit better power, no noise, no fade. I replaced the brakes myself and did not bleed them, something I've done many times in my life on different trucks.
So any thoughts on what may be the cause ? Poor pad compound for towing, may need a bleed, drilled/slotted rotors ? This is obviously a dangerous situation that could be a disaster on a more consequential grade, I won't tow again until it's addressed.
A few months back I replaced the stock front rotors and pads since they were warped at 55k miles. Power and feel was always fine with the stockers. For replacements I used "Power Stop K2163-36 Front Z36 Truck & Tow Brake Kit, Carbon Fiber Ceramic Brake Pads and Drilled/Slotted Brake Rotors" which had very good reviews. Initial impressions, and first two tows with them were very impressive. Felt at least as good as stock and possibly a bit better power, no noise, no fade. I replaced the brakes myself and did not bleed them, something I've done many times in my life on different trucks.
So any thoughts on what may be the cause ? Poor pad compound for towing, may need a bleed, drilled/slotted rotors ? This is obviously a dangerous situation that could be a disaster on a more consequential grade, I won't tow again until it's addressed.