Front brakes
I did a brake job on my 2002 2500 Dmax. The back brakes on the right rear were down to metal to metal. Put on a new rotor and pads. Now to the front. There were a lot of pad left but changed them any ...
Forum Discussion
mkirsch wrote:
Drove trucks with rear drum brakes for many years. Rear brakes almost never worked because they were drums, the adjusters would rust up, and they'd wear out of adjustment quickly. Rear brakes were always in GREAT shape when it came time for brakes because they were out of adjustment and not doing anything. Not once, ever, did the truck ever try to swap ends because only the front brakes were working.
Coming from the midwest rust belt, I always hated drum brakes as well.
Now, moving out west, my opinion is decidedly different about drums. Still more parts and pieces and more complicated than discs, but the bulk of the issue with drums, IMO is a lack of regular maintenance and RUST. Have a 1974 Jeep drums on all 4 corners. Purchased in New Mexico going on 20 years ago now. Been garaged 95% of the time I've had it. Doesn't get driven alot, but drives good.
The FIRST time I even removed a wheel on it was 2 years ago, to replace the 25 year old dry rotted tires and refresh the front wheel bearings and locking hubs. That little Jeep stops PERFECTLY. Has since the day I bought it. It will almost do a stoppie! And I can hammer the brakes at 50mph no hand on the wheel and it is straight as an arrow.
God knows how old the brake fluid was when I bought it. I've done a few redneck brake fluid flushes to it over the years (empty the master cyl and refill with fresh fluid), but that is it. Had to manually back of the adjusters to get the front drums off for the hub work. Figured for sure they'd be froze up. Nope, smooth as butter and since I lubed the adjusters, they will probably not even stick when my grandkids inherit it and my own kids aren't even adults yet!
And my 86 GMC, Eastern Oregon truck. Granted the rear brakes were all brand new when I bought it couple years ago. Everything down to the nails and springs. But the rear brakes on that truck flat out WORK and work well. Even moreso, when I set the little GM rear bias valve to the loaded position. (Which for Burbmans edification, is intended to INCREASE rear brake pressure when loaded and decrease it when unloaded. You know, to keep the vehicle from swapping ends)
Common theme from someone who used to cuss out drum brakes? NO rust = good drum brakes!
