I changed out my brake pads myself at about 70k miles. I got some lifetime
warranty pads at Big Chief Auto Parts (I think?) - anyway, I've got 138k on
the truck now and pads still look like new. Disc pads were very easy to
change, drums were a bitch 'cuz I didn't have the right tools. I probably
didn't need to do them at the time, but figured I might as well have new
pads all around.
I've heard that ABS doesn't work with an empty bed - I know mine doesn't.
It's got rear ABS only, but the rear tires lock up whenever I have to slam
on the brakes - haven't had to do that with any weight in the bed yet.
-----Original Message-----
From: Brian Pearson <dakota_brian@hotmail.com>
To: dakota-truck@buffnet.net <dakota-truck@buffnet.net>
Date: Wednesday, February 17, 1999 3:40 PM
Subject: DML: all go and no whoa!
>Dear DML members!
>
>I have been on the list for a while now and we always talk about going
>faster and the performace stuff which is great, but I wanted to slow
>down and talk about stopping.
>
>My 97 dakota has 75,000 miles now, it has been great on parts except for
>brakes and just a fan clutch which was under warrenty. At 20K miles it
>was grinding the rotors, I had rotors turned and new pads replaces.
>
>I then started to watch them. At 32K I replaced the pads again, then at
>50K miles I had to replace both rotors, pads, shoes, and turn drums.
>When I had the brakes done the 3rd time at 50K I had my step fathers
>Meineke shop do them and I just check them a couple of days ago around
>75K miles and they still had 50%-60% life left. I asked him why they was
>lasting so long and he said it was because we put on better stuff then
>the factory, and because we have to garentee them we almost have to put
>better parts on.
>
>Also you might want to know what helps the brake wear on my dakota so
>fast and that is because I do alot of hauling heavy loads, contruction
>tools, trash trailers, job boxs, horse trailers, and a 16' flatbed with
>cars and tractors and also anything else on a trailer that does not fit
>in the back of my truck while out on the ranch.
>
>I guess with my story I'm wondering if anyone else is having brake
>problems or what the normal wear for their brakes is, and just what kind
>of stress that I'm putting on my brakes with all the loads that I hual
>compared to someone that does not do a lot of braking with heavy loads.
>
>Thanx, Brian
>http://www.brian.simplenet.com
>97/v6/reg-cab/bolt on mods
>soon to be a dually dakota named Runt Ram!
>
>______________________________________________________
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