Update: Brakes

[LESDL]

I did wash the truck yesterday. Lots o' dust and dirt rinsed out of the wheels.

 

This morning I called the dealer and found out that according to my VIN the system pulled a more expensive set of pads up for my truck model. Hold onto yer hats, they said these would be $110, about $25 higher than the normal pads they use for other 1500's. The service writer could not explain why this was, thought maybe it was because my truck is a GMC Z71 rather than a chevy or non- Z71. <shrug>

 

I asked if they'd put on aftermarket pads if I brought them in, they said "sure." So I called around and got pricing of ceramic pads running from $38- $78.

 

Then I went for a ride and found that all the noises were gone. Went down to the dealer and the writer took a look wth me. He thought the current pads all looked fine and even thought they were not the originals. I would be surprised if the previous owner had to redo them prior to the 28k miles I found the truck with.

 

He also went into parts and showed me the rear pads and how they were tapered off at the ends, which illuminated what I was seeing with the pads on my truck. He also showed me the metal "warning" tabs that make the noise when you need to replace them, and said the noise would be constant and unmistakable.

 

Bottom line, he said I shouldn't have to worry for a while from the looks of my current pads. Sounded good to me! Now I know to rinse the calipers and wheels out more often when doing miles of dirt roads. Glad to not have to spend the money right now!

[gmcjoe]

Pad pricing sounds normal for GM OEM pads, that is what they cost from the dealer for my 2000 1500 GMC Sierra 4x4.

 

Your pads should be good for about 70K plus, much longer life then I had on any of my OBS trucks.

 

I've had OEM pads, Bendix (squealers), Raybestos Quiet Stops (very nice) and now I am running Hawk pads with Poerslot rotors from buybrakes.com Very nice setup and the parts are cheaper then OEM materials.

 

DO NOT go cheap on your brake pads, unless you like hearing plenty of squealing