need to replace rotors...any suggestions ?

[mdbt100]

just last fall i removed and had my rotors turned..and well the rotors again are warped..so instead of returning them, which still could be done, i thought or replacing with something a little more rugged? i do drive over passes, but not alot, and tow a little..perhaps this is what the oem's fail prematuraley...
thanks for the ideas!
scott

[BamZipPow]

How much weight are you towing? Does yer trailer have electric brakes? If so, are they set correctly? What are yer driving habits like? I hope you don't do any abrupt braking or ride yer brakes down a lot of hills...

How good are yer brake lines and other brake components? What was the color of yer brake fluid when you bled out yer brakes?

I personally would stay away from the slotted/drilled rotors...

I picked up an extra set of rotors off of eBay fer cheap...haven't put them on yet.

I wonder if anyone ever made an active brake cooling system running off of an electric blower that you could direct with some hose?

[tr918]

Go to Autozone, Pepboys, advance or any autoparts store. Get aftermarket (not oem) vented rotors that are properly sized for the T100. I did this for my 1993 T100 one ton model. I have not had any problems since. Rotors cost me less than $75 bucks for both.

Hope this helps
-TR

[MoTown]

Be sure to follow the suggested wheel lug nut torque of 83 ft/lbs. I have always reset mine to the specs and never have warped rotors. This may not be the sole cause but I have read in other places that it a suspected cause of warped rotors. After returning home from tire or brake work I always retorque to the specs. And, WOW, are they ever tight from someones over-zealous use of an air wrench. Something to think about. Good Luck!

[mdemeglio]

Just did mine this weekend - $75 for both from CarQuest - I put the ceramic pads on this time because the truck's an automatic so there's no help from the tranny slowing it down, plus the ceramics are supposed to eliminate the brake dust build up on the wheels.

I was very impressed to find 4 piston calipers on my truck - pretty hard core for a half ton! Front brake jobs are cake on these - just remove two pins on each caliper and the pads slide right out. I'm guessing there's a special tool to retract the pistons so the new pads will fit in there but I just used a c-clamp and one of the old pads to press them back in slowly.

Took about 3 hours total including repacking the wheel bearings and replacing the wheel seals and was probably one of the most rewarding jobs I've done in a while because it stops great now and no more pulsing when I hit the brakes on the highway.

[BamZipPow]

Don't want to scare you or anything...but higher percentage ceramic pads aren't known fer their stopping power. It's a trade off fer dust. At least the rims will look pretty in the junkyard...

You 4WD owners have it easy with them front pads. Us 2WD T-100 owners have to pull the caliper off...

[xsacta]

Originally Posted by mdemeglio

Just did mine this weekend - $75 for both from CarQuest - I put the ceramic pads on this time because the truck's an automatic so there's no help from the tranny slowing it down, plus the ceramics are supposed to eliminate the brake dust build up on the wheels.

I was very impressed to find 4 piston calipers on my truck - pretty hard core for a half ton! Front brake jobs are cake on these - just remove two pins on each caliper and the pads slide right out. I'm guessing there's a special tool to retract the pistons so the new pads will fit in there but I just used a c-clamp and one of the old pads to press them back in slowly.

Took about 3 hours total including repacking the wheel bearings and replacing the wheel seals and was probably one of the most rewarding jobs I've done in a while because it stops great now and no more pulsing when I hit the brakes on the highway.

Rotors are on my to do list. Mine aren't warped, just a bit grooved. i need to do a repack in the next 5K miles so I'll do the rotors too. I'm gonna try the Performance Friction Carbon Metallic pads when I do. I picked up a Motive Power Bleeder from eBay a few weeks ago. It's a miracle of science! Fantastic! I bled out the whole system in about a half hour, by myself. A real *must have* if you work on your own stuff.

[mdemeglio]

Funny you should mention that, I had to stop quick this morning on the way in and was surprised hat how bad these things stop in a panic situation - especially since there's four honkin pistons in each caliper and the truck is empty. I think I'll be talking to the parts store about a refund or exchange this afternoon.