RE: Brake Pads

From: Bernd D. Ratsch (bernd@dodgetrucks.org)
Date: Fri Aug 15 2008 - 10:25:05 EDT


The brake inspectors normally don't take the brakes apart and actually
measure the pads. What was the measured thickness of the pads with "plenty"
on it?

Example: 10% left on the pads is about 1/8" of the actual pad - depends on
the pad design in some cases. A lot of shops will look at the pads and see
that there's still pad left - that doesn't mean that they're still good
though. 5/16" is the minimum thickness for a Ram (front pad) but without
actually looking at the pad (without the wheel on), there's no easy way to
tell. Looking at the pad through the wheel (at an angle) can only give you
a "guesstimate".

Even on the cross-country drivers (Ram Diesels) around here, 50-60K miles is
their max. One of my regular customers comes in once every 6 months to have
his pads replaced and rotors checked/resurfaced/replaced. (Yes, he puts
about 90K miles on his '06 Ram every year - 450K miles on the truck last
time I saw him.)

- Bernd

-----Original Message-----
From: jherrman@zoominternet.net [mailto:jherrman@zoominternet.net]
Sent: Friday, August 15, 2008 8:27 AM
To: dakota-truck-moderator@bent.twistedbits.net
Subject: Re: DML: Brake Pads

On 2008-08-15, "The Slakies" <slakies@comcast.net> wrote:
> I have 79K miles on my 2000 Dak CC with 5 speed and 4.7. I have never
> had any brake or rotor problems and from the looks of my pads I
> probably have at least another 20K miles wear left on them.

I also have a (2003) 4.7 and a 5 speed. The factory brake pads have 62k
miles on them, and just passed the PA safety inspection, at which I was told
there was still "plenty" of pad left.



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