Re: Brake Question

From: Sam Parthemer (samp@cts.com)
Date: Wed Jun 11 1997 - 10:12:50 EDT


> >
> I have to agree there Pat, to replace a brake pad, you have to pull the
> tire, to replace a clutch you have to pull the tranny, you tell me which
> is cheaper. (Hope this doesn't start the war again(auto/stick), don't
> mean it to, just making an observation). Later-
>
> bruce
>

        Sure, I know the clutch vs. brake costs... What I was trying to
say may have been misunderstood.

        For example: With my 5 speed, when exiting a fwy via the
off ramp, I merely take my foot of the gas and the either a) allow the
truck to slow down via the engine braking that occurs when you take
your foot off the gas, then brake lightly (and push in the clutch at
that point), thus only using the brakes (not the engine, or downshifting
to a lower gear) to slow/stop... or b) I just go to Neutral and and
use the brakes... Either way is not harmful to the transmission, nor
to the clutch...

        On other occations, I will use the transmission to assist
in slowing the truck (pulling a heavy boat trailer, U-haul, etc.) and
will downshift (while braking) to slow the truck/trailer... Yes the
trailer has brakes on it, but in situations where you need maximum
slowing, I'd rather use the engine braking (as that's what it was
designed for) to accomplish a stop rather than fade the brakes
and not stop...

        I've seen enough people wrap up a weekend trip to the
river (Colorado) on a Friday night 'cause they faded out there brakes
going down the grade into the desert from San Diego... Most of
the people who were 'brakeless at the bottom' were riding their
brakes the entire time down the hill, and cooked 'em... (You
could smell it...and the rotors were still glowing..) One was a ram
last weekend, the other was a ford... (When do Aluminum rims
melt anyway?? :P )

        Anyway, back to the ORIGINAL post, 5 speeds will
typically go farther on pads/rotors than automatic... Let's do
a poll to find out shall we??

        Sam '95 SLT --65000 did first brake job pads/turn rotors
                    '91 LE --27000 pads/turn rotors
                           --55000 pads/new rotors
                               --80000 pads/turn rotors
  

 



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