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Posts: 8743
| It's been a long time since I was in the business, but most of the brake guys I dealt with said that messing around with different pads is a big no-no. Pads are cheap, rotors are not. Add in the lower grade rotors found on many trucks and SUV's, all you're effectively doing switching to a harder pad is putting more wear on your rotors and ensuring a much more expensive brake job down the road. Whatever you choose, I'd still pull the rotors and take them to your local shop to have them turned. (Some shops won't do it if they're under spec.) Another thing to check is the "pins" on your calipers. The conditions we drive them in can result in the pins getting so mucked up that only one pad is hitting the rotor when you step on the brakes even if the calipers are in good working order. Simple clean/grease usually frees them up.
Whatever you do, it's a good idea to pull the wheels once every couple years and check everything out. Rotors should be shiny and smooth on both sides. Any signs of grooves or rust where the pads make contact is a good sign something is out of whack. Squealing or pulling to one side is a sign that something has been out of whack for some time. And if you ever smell burning brakes (unmistakable once you've smelled it once) or see any sign of smoke, glowing rotors, etc. that's a sign that says "Stop drop and tow"... | |
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