So I've put 16,000 miles on my truck since I got it mid-July last year. Now I am beginning to hear my front brakes squeak when I apply them and also when I'm just driving I can hear what sounds to be my front drivers side wheel rubbing/squeaking, so I'm assuming it's also time to get the rotors turned.

I dont know when the brakes we're done on this truck before me, my guess is at 58k because thats when the owner I bought it from bought it as a certified pre-owned from a dealer. I dont know what kind of brakes they would have put on it, but I do want to get new brakes soon, maybe ones that would leave less brake dust but that has always been an inveitable evil I have to keep up with during the cold months. (cleaning the rims that is)

I'm half tempted to do the brakes myself so I can learn how to do them in the future, but since I can hear my front wheel rubbing when I am going any bit to the left I dont have the ability to machine my own rotors so I'm gonna probably get my neighbor (who runs an auto repair shop) to take it in and do the front brakes and machine the rotors. I'm just wondering if it'd be better for me to get the brakes "i want" vs. whatever he'll use.


Thoughts, suggestions, comments?

 

BTW, I took a ride out on my lunch into an empty parking lot to see all the scenarios it makes noises. So I have no pulsating of either the brake pedal or the wheel or the chassis doesnt wobble when the brakes are applied. It does however make a rubbing noise constantly (or damn near close to) when in a left turn and even when I come out of it and go straight. I wonder if I should just look into getting new brake pads and seeing if that fixes the whole issue. Ceramic or not anyone???

 

I usually go with Wagner ThermoQuiets. dusting is minimal and they last a long time.

 

Cool! So I got home last night and had a bbq (in this warm weather we're having) and took my neighbor out for a quick ride up the street so he could here it. He felt no pulsing, etc. so he said it's not the rotors and I should just go out to a local place like AA or AZ and pick up 2 basic pad sets for the truck, he had mentioned that the ceramic brakes eat away at the rotors and that the Ford dealer probably used regular old pads.

The nice thing he said is if I broke something while putting them on he'd come over and look at it. I got a NICE 2+ car garage to do the work in, so space isnt the issue. I have seen brakes done before, just havent done them myself.

 

Man i bought some badass brake pads. Great stopping power. . . . . check out my thread:

https://www.ranger-forums.com/f37/ne...-power-103084/

I've got minimal dust too, even though i've heard that my pads have a huge amount of dust. You should do your own brakes, it's so easy (disc brakes at least).

 

Just a FYI, not to challenge the credibility of your friend.I've been driving since 1974. I switch to ceramic pads on every vehicle I'e ever owned. Not once have I replaced a rotor do to ceraminc pad use. I own a 03 Edge that 188000 miles on it. I turned the rotors to remove a little wobble while braking. I bought the truck when it 40,000. 148000 miles on a set of ceramic pads, still have not replaced a rotor. Still stops tried and true with no problems and very little brake dust.

 

hey bidness I'm all for that answer thanks!

He's an "old timer" who's 75 with a shop and has been doing this for years. I'm sure these 'new fangled' things that come out annoy him so maybe that's what that was
(if you know what I mean)

Should I order online and wait for them to ship before I change my brakes, or would it be worth it to go somewhere on the way home and pick up a set at a brick'n'mortar shop?

 

ceramic pads aren't anything new, but they also aren't anything THAT great... they are great for what they are designed for... the 1 000 000$ question that hasen't been asked is... "what is your typical drive?"

this will make a difference between which type to use...

if there is no pulsating, don't bother turning them... take a look at them when you get them off though, if they are nice and smooth, they are fine, if there is grooves cut in them (smooth or rough when sliding your hand across them) then get them turned... the only other reason to get them turned is if they are glazed (really shiny and smooth) you want a little bit of texture... they are almost etched when you buy them...

i use stock brakes, because at this stage, it's what suits my driving...

 

I put a set of ceramics on my truck 3 yrs ago, and love em.
Ive not seen any problems with the rotors at all.

 

i never had any issues with ceramic either but i tried a set of the ferro carbon Hawke pads this go around on my ranger with a set of slotted rotors and they are the best performing pads ive ever used. the dust is much lower than stock and the stopping power is 100% better. i also suggest to do them yourself if you are able to. its pretty simple to do.

 

my typical drive is a 70 mile round trip commute M-F 95% interstate (70mph speeds) and the weekends are pretty open to country roads.

 

I picked up a set of Wagner Ceramic disc brakes at the local Advance Auto on my way home from work, cost me about $60 and it was done in less than an hour. Wow that was easy!

 

If you do your own brakes make sure to double check the tightness of the two bolts holding the back pad thingy in place... my dumb *** didnt double check and I had a nice clunking sound... had to remove the wheel, and retighten...

I had ceramic pads on my truck for the passed 40K miles... while alot les dust I wasnt exactly happy with the stopping power...

Also turning rotors now adays... not done as often as you think. Mid range parts from autozone for my 04 4x4 was $153 with tax as of 4 days ago.

Also, rubbing or grinding sound while turning left could be your CV Shaft.

 

Whats the best way to turn rotors if you dont have a lathe available?

 

if you don't have a brake laithe available, take them to a machine shop, or an automotive shop (most garages should have one) do not attempt to do them on a wood working, or metal shop laithe... they are completely different machines... technically, you could do them on a metal laithe, but i wouldn't risk the try...

 

its a ranger not a race car.. i would run duralast golds and get free ones everytime you burn through them.

 

I changed the stock ones at 33,000 miles and replaced them with Akebono's I bought on Amazon.com. No problems and really low dust since and am at 66,000 miles right now. Prob need to turn the brakes next time but most AutoZone, Kragen, etc places do that for free if you take them in.

 

you could do it on a toolroom lathe if you know how to set it up, but most of the local parts stores around here will do it for you but IMO, id just buy new rotors, they are thin enough to start out with and they are cheap to buy new. i wouldnt even consider turning my rotors, just my opinion though.

 

Patrick, to each their own ofcourse, but why wouldn't you bother to turn them? There is a minimum spec for a reason right? As long as you meausre them you are fi e... Measuring them is easy, I just bought a digital vernier caliper for $18