| Front brake pad thickness [message #358987] |
Sat, 26 September 2020 19:58  |
Ernest Dankert
Messages: 133
Registered: May 2007
Location: Ogden, New York
Karma: 1
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Just finished new shocks all the way around and new CV joint boots at LF corner. My question for the group, is there a standard wear thickness
for the front brake pads? I have riveted pads and the thickness left is just over 1/4 inch. My rotors were turned and are at minimum thickness.
This is a stock front end and serviced bearings and knuckles by D. Lenzi.
1977 Eleganza II
Ogden NY
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| Re: Front brake pad thickness [message #359000 is a reply to message #358987] |
Sun, 27 September 2020 09:20  |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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Senior Member |
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If I’m into it that far and see 50% or less remaining, it’s more time effective to just replace them on the spot. Jacking and pulling wheels is biggest part of job
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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| Re: Front brake pad thickness [message #359023 is a reply to message #358987] |
Mon, 28 September 2020 07:33 |
lqqkatjon
Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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brake pads are cheap and quick and easy to install.....
Brake rotors, and brake drums are expensive and not something you want to replace.
So, if you even have to ask the question, toss in a new set of pads!
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
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| Re: Front brake pad thickness [message #359027 is a reply to message #358987] |
Mon, 28 September 2020 09:31 |
Larry
Messages: 2875
Registered: January 2004
Location: Menomonie, WI
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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If you have it this far apart and rotors are already "turned", put new pads in. You say that you had the rotors turned? Is that a fresh turning with no miles on this grind? If so, get a set of Performance Friction pads as your replacement pads. Once bedded properly, they are probably the best pad for our application. Give every good stopping power, good wear characteristics, and easy on our hard to find rotors. If your rotors do not have a fresh grind on them, find someone who has a "Grizzly Grinder". Here is one on ebay.
https://www.ebay.com/i/223980763267?rt=nc&_trkparms=aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20160908110712%26meid%3Dadeaf41bc0954d6 db46308a1b9d74b92%26pid%3D100677%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D30%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D114259036204%26itm%3D223980763267%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2386202%26algv %3DDefaultOrganic%26brand%3DGrizzly
If this link does not work, just search Grizzly Grinder on ebay.
This is a on the car rotor surfacer that when properly used will prepare the surface for the Performance Friction pads while taking off a minimum of rotor material. If you don't have access to this tool, use a portable oscillating or random oscillating sander with a very aggressive grit paper to remove the glaze that is on the rotors. You must remove all glaze...scratch the s$.t out of it. It takes a lot of time and effort to do this, but without doing that, the Performance Friction pads will not break in properly and will likely give you hard terrible brakes.
Just My Humble Opinion, hope it works out for you.
Larry 
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
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| Re: Front brake pad thickness [message #359032 is a reply to message #358987] |
Mon, 28 September 2020 10:29 |
lqqkatjon
Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Karma: 5
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Dang, someone must of picked up that grizzly grinder quick today on ebay!
I will second what Larry said. I have installed performance friction on three coaches. 1st one we did not sand the rotor and that took alot of hard breaking and bad brakes to get the pads to bed in. Just about the time we were going to pull it apart and sand the rotor, it started braking better and is now braking just fine. But it took alot of heat cycling the brakes.
my coach we used the grizzly grinder on. It felt as good stopping as my car stopping out of the shop. drove it basically 1 mile and returned back to the shop with no concerns. I have run those brakes for a year, and had them out from MN to oregon and back, and even yesterday while driving though Minneapolis I was thinking how I had full confidence in the brakes and those pads really work well stopping the coach.
last coach we DA sanded the rotors as we did not have the grizzy grinder that day, and it stopped fairly well out of the driveway. That coach is not a good test bed, because it has other brake problems(rear not working well). We were just trying to get it home that day, and succeeded. that coach is a project and will probably not be on the road for a few more for further brake testing.
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
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| Re: Front brake pad thickness [message #359048 is a reply to message #359000] |
Mon, 28 September 2020 13:38 |
Ernest Dankert
Messages: 133
Registered: May 2007
Location: Ogden, New York
Karma: 1
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Normally I would agree. Lately it seems it is a crap shoot with pads and rotors. My rotors on the GMC are perfect. Got about
30K miles, much in the Rockies.
I have bought Delco, NAPA, and Advance rotors and pads. All different quality levels and nothing lasts more than 2-3 years.
Yes I know how to slow down and this is across 4 drivers, I discount driving technique.
In retrospect I could have pulled the pads and looked inside.
Was hoping to get a straight answer.
I am old enough that it is a chore getting up and down and after the 6 wheel shock exercise and wresting with the drive shaft
I had other demands on my time and shop space.
1977 Eleganza II
Ogden NY
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| Re: Front brake pad thickness [message #359053 is a reply to message #359048] |
Mon, 28 September 2020 15:30 |
lqqkatjon
Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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I thought the answers were clear.
you can't buy a new rotor. Delco, Napa, Advanced... they will not have them. They do not make them. You can buy a re-drilled toronado rotor. they are over $100 from specialty GMC shops. and you have to completely disassemble the knuckle with specialty tools to replace.
so if you think you need new pads. you stop thinking and you just do it. You do not want to ever have to replace a rotor.
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
[Updated on: Mon, 28 September 2020 15:31] Report message to a moderator |
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