Factory brake life expectancy

[Dark Knight 500]

Just curious what everyone has experienced in terms of the life expectancy of the factory pads and rotors on these 4th generations.

I have a 2017 1500 with 175,000km (109,000 miles) and still running the original brakes.

I am the one and only owner of this truck.

60% highway 40% city

 

[Bigskyroadglide]

I changed mine on my 2016 at 93k, on my 14 at 68k and on my 2011 at 97k.

Based on.my experience, on 2 out of 3 separate trucks it's fairly normal. The 11 and 16 were mostly highway miles limited city. My 14, was a daily driver and is supercharged so, harder to stop in some instances

 

[Jeepwalker]

Your experience seems pretty consistent to similar posts I've read over the years ...that factory pads seem to last quite a long time. They cost more (from Mopar), but if a guy factors in extra-life... there might be some value, maybe even savings ...in buying them. (??) It could also be that brakes tend to 'hang-up' less or not at all on newer trucks than older (rustier?) trucks that might be running aftermarket pads (possibly wearing them out quicker). Owners of tk's with OEM pads also report less wheel dust than many aftermarket pads. I don't have any evidence to back these claims up other than various forum posts over the years.

Last I read Akebono (Premium) pads were OE on Ram 1500's around your year. The last I looked, they were a few bucks cheaper than Mopar's from RockAuto, but still quite a bit more than many other aftermarket pads. Either might be something to look into when your truck needs new ones.

 

[MaxGig]

I currently have 105k miles on my original pads and rotors. I'm traveling and won't be able to change them until I hit roughly 108k miles. But so far there's no issues, I already bought new cross drilled slotted rotors and will put them on shortly after the 4th of July when we make it back home. This was an unexpected but pleasant surprise from my RAM.

 

[Bigskyroadglide]

These are my next front brakes on my supercharged 14 RT. Since I have zero desire to get rid of the truck, I'm going all in.

RAM 2002-18 1500 Front 16" X6 Big Brake Kit

1090303

www.littleshopmfg.com

 

[Montrose439]

2012 5.7 ram. 127000 miles. Changed brake rotor on front. Back pads.

 

[SkyHiker]

2021 1500 6.2L
I am the Original owner and I have 118,608 on the factory breaks.

 

[vetteyog]

I have a 2012 Ram 1500. When I bought my truck used in June 2024, dealer replaced all 4 wheels with Mopar pads and rotors. Front pads are about gone with 22,000 miles on them. Rears are fine. I have about 2000 miles pulling my 6500lb camper all over PA though. I am currently researhing better pads.

 

[Gr8bawana]

I have a 2017 2500 Cummins that now has 112k miles on original brakes. I looked at the pads front and rear a few months ago when rotating the tires. I was pleasantly surprised.
I also tow a 14k lb 5th wheel and a 9k lb T/T and always use the Exhaust brake when towing.
They look like they have at least another year or more left on them.

 

[RamDiver]

Just curious what everyone has experienced in terms of the life expectancy of the factory pads and rotors on these 4th generations.

I have a 2017 1500 with 175,000km (109,000 miles) and still running the original brakes.

I am the one and only owner of this truck.

60% highway 40% city

If you keep the calipers, pads, slides, and pins clean and lubed, they could last a long time unless you're racing around the city, hammering the brakes.

Like many components, regular PM will help with extended service compared to those who wait until the calipers seize.

In Ontario, they build cars and coincidentally dump a horrific amount of chemicals on the roads every winter, regardless of the weather conditions.

Brakes survive much longer here with a full maintenance every year. Don't they use sand in Alberta?

.

 

[MarshRam]

These are my next front brakes on my supercharged 14 RT. Since I have zero desire to get rid of the truck, I'm going all in.

RAM 2002-18 1500 Front 16" X6 Big Brake Kit

1090303

www.littleshopmfg.com

Those are sweat. I'd buy that setup under one of two scenarios. Promise me my tuck will run 3 million miles and the brakes will last just as long. Or, I'm building a show truck. I'm just going to skedaddle away and forget I just looked at that for my own good. Super nice!

 

[Hagar1]

Tthere are so many different grades of brake materials available these days, it is sometimes difficult to chose the proper units. Personally, I prefer to do some research to find what suits me.
I want to stop 3 feet before the rear bumper of the vehicle ahead of me, not 2 feet past it.

 

[Zoe Saldana]

2016 2500 6.4l 105,195 miles

Original everything brakes.

That is 90% highway miles, about 35k pulling a trailer.

I use the transmission to break in the mountains of Colorado.

 

[18RAM3500]

I’ve never worn out the brakes on a Ram. To clarify, I only put ~ 25K miles on my ‘09, ~ 50K on my ‘12, and now have just under 37K on my ‘18 (all 3500 4x4 SRW CTD’s purchased new).

The only one I towed my travel trailer with was my ‘12, hope to tow with my ‘18 soon.

I use the exhaust brake when I drive and I try to coast down before braking. Recently I had the brake fluid replaced on the ‘18, as the brakes are pretty much like new.

(I’ve had most of the fluids replaced already, I like this truck and I hope to have it for the rest of my life.)