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.
Unless you were standing there by the tech to verify what the dealer put in for brake pads ..or it was explicitly line-item'd by part number on the invoice (and you cross-referenced), ....dollars to doughnuts says the dealer installed their 'value-line' (V-Line or BProAuto) brake pads. Which would work fine but not be as high quality (or likely as long lasting) as Mopar's premium (Akebono Premium) OEM pads. Their "value line" pads are probably made by either Marelli (former FCA-owned Italian brake & Parts company (spun off a few yrs ago) which used to supply the V-line pads, maybe still do??), or possibly Raybestos-supplied. Which would still be good. But most likely not as good as their OEM Mopar premium pads. That's probably why they didn't last as long on your 2012. Of course towing may have done it too. But 2k mi towing doesn't sound like enough to wear out a 'good' set of pads. Unless calipers were hanging up.
Mopar OEM Premium pads on Mopar's website run $128. That's the online price. The dealer invoice price to the customer is probably closer to $190 (list). The V-line pads, their aftermarket-grade pads, currently run $55 a box online (probably closer to $90 invoiced). So...you do the math on what 'free pads' they likely used to put on a used vehicle they just sold. If you read through google Ram posts, a lot of owners go to the dealer for a brake job, expecting to get quality OEM-grade dodge pads like they've been used to, and end up with high-dust (sometimes 'squeaky') V-line pads that they immediately notice a difference with. After a lot of dusty wheel cleaning & then some dealer-complaining they find out what they ACTUALLY received (not knowing there WAS a V-line) were the Value-line pads. The dealer didn't necessarily pull a fast one, they went with an economical option to keep the brake job economical price-wise for the customer. Probably 80% of the customers bellyache about the steep price of a brake job ...so they have a lower-cost pad option (like a lot of companies offer an 'economical' line). And maybe the V-line pads they're using now *are* lower dust than what they used to be. IDK. V-line doesn't necessarily mean 'bad' ..just not the same grade as new. If your budget doesn't allow a new Carrier Furnace/AC unit, ...then maybe go with the Goodman unit. I don't see a V-line rotor, so maybe they only have their 'good' grade rotors. They do have V-line calipers...so, again, ask what EXACTLY you're getting (in terms of quality difference) if you replace calipers.
Anyway ...Something to keep in mind if you go to the dealer and get replacement pads and a brake job. Ask the questions. Get the differences. Decide what's best for you. Let them know EXACTLY what you want. No ambiguity. If you don't mind value-line pads (which would probably be commensurate with what most owners buy off RockAuto or Amazon anyway) that's fine. But if you are expecting & think you're paying for Genuine Mopar OEM-grade pads b/c you want low dust and low corrosion pads, make sure you have that conversation ...so that's what you will be getting. Obviously they're not going to install Mopar Premium-grade pads that cost $100 more ..for the V-line pad price. I would want to see the box they came out of or a part number on the invoice. The service writer might say they're going to be Dodge pads, and the V-line ARE indeed dodge pads (the cheaper ones). Plus the tech ...who knows if the OEM-pad message was passed to them. Maybe he mistakenly asked the parts counter guy for V-line pads b/c that's what he usually puts on trucks?? So ...good idea to ask the questions and know up front what you will be getting and paying for.
It's one of those gray areas a guy needs to be extra-vigilant about on the front end of the transaction.
