Brake pads early EOL?

[New_England_Titan]

Last week, I started hearing that 'ol familiar brake squeel telling the driver to check brakes - so I brought in my rig yesterday to the local brake guy and his jaw hit the floor when he saw how little pad was left after 20k miles...he tells me his immediate feeling is that the brakes are WAY TOO SMALL for the size of the rig and tires (18's)...anyone else here this or know more about brakes than me that can enlighten me - I would rather hear from you guys than anyone that might have a vested interest...thoughts?

(needless to say, I had the pads replaced but at this rate, I'll be replacing them 2x every 1.5 years. Seems high.)

[Austin]

Have you had the brake TSB done to your truck?

The TSB says they've found that the pistons in the brake calipers can stick. Sticking calipers can cause greatly increased wear, pad material deposit on the rotors (causing brake shimmy), and overall crappy brake performance.

Part of the TSB is to lube the caliper pistons with a special, mo better grease that prevents their sticking.

[PolarisTitan]

I dont know about you, but if I got 20K to a set of brake pads on any of the trucks I owned Id be dancing in the street. My van and my dads suburban get about 12-15K before the brakes are done. just me though, i dont know how you drive etc....

[New_England_Titan]

interesting becasue the mechanic also indicated one piston on each side was firing more than the other.

[tnbowhunter]

Originally Posted by New_England_Titan

interesting becasue the mechanic also indicated one piston on each side was firing more than the other.

????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!! the brake pistons are firing???????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't get it.

[TriKKy]

Originally Posted by PolarisTitan

I dont know about you, but if I got 20K to a set of brake pads on any of the trucks I owned Id be dancing in the street. My van and my dads suburban get about 12-15K before the brakes are done. just me though, i dont know how you drive etc....

Agreed, my Tahoe toasted pads every 8-10K

[Boone-Titan]

The pistons are not the problem. The problem addressed by the TSB relates the the torque member (frame) within which the pads ride. These were binding causing the pads to rest against the face of the rotor causing excessive heat leading to the warped rotor. The TSB originally covered the turning of the rotors replacement of pads and the application of a specific grease to the ways or pins in the stiffiner. The modified TSB "A", amended the original adding a new torque member, Pins (bolts) and seals (boots). Had this TSB done at 6400 now at 10000 and the warp/shudder has not returned. Good luck.
,Les

[bestatchess]

Originally Posted by PolarisTitan

I dont know about you, but if I got 20K to a set of brake pads on any of the trucks I owned Id be dancing in the street. My van and my dads suburban get about 12-15K before the brakes are done. just me though, i dont know how you drive etc....

I do mostly hgwy driving, downshift on steep inclines instead of riding the brakes, and typically get like 80,000 miles between brake jobs.

[bestatchess]

Originally Posted by New_England_Titan

Last week, I started hearing that 'ol familiar brake squeel telling the driver to check brakes - so I brought in my rig yesterday to the local brake guy and his jaw hit the floor when he saw how little pad was left after 20k miles...he tells me his immediate feeling is that the brakes are WAY TOO SMALL for the size of the rig and tires (18's)...anyone else here this or know more about brakes than me that can enlighten me - I would rather hear from you guys than anyone that might have a vested interest...thoughts?

(needless to say, I had the pads replaced but at this rate, I'll be replacing them 2x every 1.5 years. Seems high.)

The brakes are not small judging by the stopping distance of the Titan compared with Ford, Chevy, Dodge. The pad material may be a little on the soft side (based on copious quantities of brake dust), causing rapid wear.

[tnbowhunter]

Originally Posted by bestatchess

I do mostly hgwy driving, downshift on steep inclines instead of riding the brakes, and typically get like 80,000 miles between brake jobs.

I couldn't tell you the last time I had a brake job done on my own personal, truck. I usually have traded for a new one before that happens. I usually trade every 75,00 miles. At 60 miles a day to work and back that dosen't take too many years to accomplish.
Of course the wife's is a different story she must drive with one foot on the gas and one on the brake pedal. She drives an Xterra 4X4 it has 60,000 and has already had pads put on.

[Austin]

I went through 5 sets of pads in a little under 1000 miles once... but that was on the race car.

[tnbowhunter]

Originally Posted by Austin

I went through 5 sets of pads in a little under 1000 miles once... but that was on the race car.

whew, you were starting to worry me there for a min.