First brake job since purchase!!

[JJEH]

Hello,

Yesterday our RAM got its first brake job since purchase.



Sorry for the bad picture quality, they were dealer provided per my request.

Anyway, they lasted 6yrs and 113K miles and I think that's pretty good.
The truck is a 1500 Laramie 4x4, doing everything from city traffic to towing.

So, to the people that like to complain about poor OEM quality, this might be a thing to consider.

 

[Scottly]

If you want better stopping power, you'll not get that kind of wear. If you want long lasting wear, you'll not get ultimate stopping performance. So, first define the complaints...I think stock brakes suck. I don't care how long they last, I want a firm predictable pedal. others, like yourself, appear to want long lasting wear. You can't have both.

 

[HEMIMANN]

Hello,

I just wanted to share something, but since I have "insufficient privileges" ( ) to post in the Wheels & Brakes section, I'll post it here.

Yesterday our RAM got its first brake job since purchase.

View attachment 548068

Sorry for the bad picture quality, they were dealer provided per my request.

Anyway, they lasted 6yrs and 113K miles and I think that's pretty good.
The truck is a 1500 Laramie 4x4, doing everything from city traffic to towing.

So, to the people that like to complain about poor OEM quality, this might be a thing to consider.

Indeed. My brakes have 70% life remaining @ 55k miles.
we still need to change brake fluid every 3 years to prevent corrosion. Lubricating brake pad pins helps too.

 

[Jeepwalker]

Looks like a solid year and a half left those pads!

Did you replace with another set of Mopars?

 

[Jeepwalker]

If you want better stopping power, you'll not get that kind of wear. If you want long lasting wear, you'll not get ultimate stopping performance. So, first define the complaints...I think stock brakes suck. I don't care how long they last, I want a firm predictable pedal. others, like yourself, appear to want long lasting wear. You can't have both.

Maybe your tk had a bad batch or something. Real world tests results THIS VIDEO indicate OEM pads are generally quite good. Chrysler doesn't make the pads, they're supplied by certain companies. The consensus is they're Akebono Premium pads, what Ram was/is putting on their trucks.

The rear pads and rotors on my truck are Mopars ...I can't say for sure if they're original or not - 175k miles, but I believe they might be. They're worn down VERY low (still some 'meat' left though). I bought new rotors and pads (not mopar's). It looks like I can safely go till next spring though.

 

[JJEH]

If you want better stopping power, you'll not get that kind of wear. If you want long lasting wear, you'll not get ultimate stopping performance. So, first define the complaints...I think stock brakes suck. I don't care how long they last, I want a firm predictable pedal. others, like yourself, appear to want long lasting wear. You can't have both.

Sure, there are many factors that contribute to the life of our vehicles. I just wanted to share how long the factory parts lasted on our vehicle and under the conditions we drove. But if it makes you think any different, the brakes on our 2013 Durango R/T lasted 5yrs and 100K (and still had plenty of pad left) when we traded it, and I drove the Durango a little different than the RAM. For what it's worth, I recommend OEM parts for most circumstances.

Looks like a solid year and a half left those pads!

Did you replace with another set of Mopars?

Right?! Perhaps I was too hasty about it...

I did go to the dealership for the job.

Maybe your tk had a bad batch or something. Real world tests results THIS VIDEO indicate OEM pads are generally quite good. Chrysler doesn't make the pads, they're supplied by certain companies. The consensus is they're Akebono Premium pads, what Ram was/is putting on their trucks.

The rear pads and rotors on my truck are Mopars ...I can't say for sure if they're original or not - 175k miles, but I believe they might be. They're worn down VERY low (still some 'meat' left though). I bought new rotors and pads (not mopar's). It looks like I can safely go till next spring though.

The ones I got say bproauto.

 

[Jeepwalker]

Stellantis launches ‘bproauto’ private-label parts brand in North America

The automaker’s second-line brand of aftermarket parts will cost less than original Mopar parts and will include components made for vehicles from other automakers.

www.automotivedive.com

https://www.dodgechryslerjeepofkirkland.com/stellantis-announces-a-2nd-replacement-parts-line/

That might be Stellantis' 'economy-grade' of products. Kind of like AC Delco Silver??, IDK. Maybe not. Haven't looked into it. They used to have what they called their Value Line, which they would often just put on customer's cars when they came in for service (rather than Mopar), so they didn't freak customers out with the price. Some time ago the VL brake pads were supplied by Magneti Marinelli (which was a Fiat spin-off). The M/M pads were known to be squeakier and dustier (per a lot of internet customer complaint posts). You can google that. But IDK who's supplying the brake pads for their BProAuto line. I read that Bremo wasn't interested in M/M said they were ony interested in "Technologically Advanced" companies (ouch!). The pads I bought to replace my truck's rears are the Mopar VL (M/M) pads. I'm going to try them with an open mind. If they suck I'll replace them. But I haven't put them on yet.

Good eye on spotting those BProAuto pads! Not to throw cold water on them, my "hunch" is they're not top-line Mopar pads. Even the Akebono Premium pads were not too far apart in price to the Mopars. If they're not, what are they and who suppied them? Might be worth inquiring the dealership's parts manager. The Parts Mgr because they know more about that stuff than the service mgr usually. Just ask the difference, don't say they put them on your truck. Regardless, it doesn't mean they're not a good or even great product.

Evaluate and keep us up to speed on them.

.

 

[800steve]

Why did you replace those pads? Lots left.

 

[Jeepwalker]

I'm guessing the OP went in, they suggested a brake job. He probably thought he was gettting OEM pads...or they told him they're Chrysler pads (which is technically correct)...but they go with their value-line pads because they're tired of hearing customers belly-ache when they see the bill for true Mopar OEM-grade pads.

I read a lot of Reddit Forum (and other Ram forum posts) about guys who've pretty much done that. Then when they notice a lot of brake dust and squealing (which wasn't present before), they figure it out and go back to the dealer and end up paying for the top Mopar pads. Just google it...there's a lot of posts on what I just wrote. But those were with the older VL (Value Line) MM pads, as I wrote above.

Maybe these newer pads are much better?? Now that he has them, just run them and hopefully he can let us know how they perform.

 

[GTyankee]

Where to Buy | bproautoparts

Find a dealership to purchase bproauto parts near you.

www.bproautoparts.com

dealership Parts Dept.

©2024 Stellantis Auto SAS. All Rights Reserved. bproauto is a registered trademark of Stellantis Auto SAS. Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Wagoneer and Mopar are registered trademarks of FCA US LLC. FIAT is a registered trademark of FCA Group Marketing S.p.A., used under license by FCA US LLC.

I think Magneti Marinelli was a FCA thing

Now the Parts Dept. has Ricambi Originali Brand
Translated, it means
Original Spare Parts

 

[GTyankee]

On the Bob is the OIL Guy, they are mentioning

FF & GG ??

try to stay with the pads that are rated FF Coefficient of Friction(CoF). Look for the FF designation with the other alphanumeric codes on the pads.

Found the answer

Friction Coefficient of Pads | Automotive Brake Calculator

Calculator for Automotive and Racing Brake Systems, Master Cylinders, Brake Bias, Piston Area, CG Height, Weight Transfer, Pedal Stroke and Maximum Deceleration

brakepower.com

 

[Jeepwalker]

If you want OEM pads the simple thing is to be *sure* to tell the service writer you wand OEM Mopar pads...and he writes it down on the order.

The point of BPAuto is a less expensive alternative. That means... "We want to be able to compete with less expensive parts outlets and increase our margin on consumable parts".

I would assume most of the parts are very good weather its a pad/filter/fuel pump/water pump/hoses/belts, probably about as good as a parts store parts most people buy. But maybe a notch below OEM (or maybe not). For example let's say Fram doesn't OEM to Chrysler. But that doesn't mean their air filters that you buy online are not good for your vehicle. Or that a Wix oil filter isn't very good?

They could also be bidding out suppliers. Maybe one year Continental gets the belt contract, then the following year it goes to Gates (for example).

It remains to be seen if the brake pads are higher noise and dust. That would be my concern. Since they last a long time, if ya don't like "risk" or making multiple trips back to the service dept, or arguing to the service writer why they used bpauto pads when you "thought" you were getting "Factory" pads ....just specify OEM from the get-go.

 

[Jeepwalker]

Also, big corporations have 'silos' of different revenue groups within the company. Maybe the part's (or Service) department is hamstrung by higher-priced OEM grade parts which are handled by a different group within the company and they have no control over the prices??. And therefore, the Parts group (or service group) which has to meet it's own margin numbers each quarter, has created it's own 'value' parts stream to help meet it's own margin targets. Less expensive but similar quality parts. And plus the Parts/Service dept's probably need to be more cost-competitive against independent shops to keep that 5-10% more service business in-house that they might be losing to independent shops.

Anyone who's worked at a large corporation will know what I'm talking about when it comes to silo'd divisions competing with each other on margin targets.

 

[JJEH]

I'm guessing the OP went in, they suggested a brake job. He probably thought he was gettting OEM pads...or they told him they're Chrysler pads (which is technically correct)...but they go with their value-line pads because they're tired of hearing customers belly-ache when they see the bill for true Mopar OEM-grade pads.

The pedal feel was off, soft and pulsating. The stopping distance was increasing. The brake fluid level was almost at minimum. So I looked at the pads and figured it's time.

When I go to a dealership, I assume I'm getting OEM parts, so I didn't specify it because if I want non-OEM stuff I'll either do it myself with parts from Summit Racing or go somewhere else. Now, if this bpauto stuff is not OEM they'll hear from me about it.

 

[Jeepwalker]

Now, if this bpauto stuff is not OEM they'll hear from me about it.

How do the pads seem to be performing as of now ....in terms of braking and brake dust?

I think there is the likelihood that they'll perform quite well. It wouldn't make any sense to install a terrible product. I never wanted to give anyone the impression bpauto was inferior.