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Brake Life

Y

Yogi Bear

New Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2005
Messages
5
I've been reading alot of posts on brakes lately and I think I'm more informed now. I've got a 2003 Z-71 I bought new 4 years ago, had it lifted a year ago 6" with an RCD kit and have 33" tires. I do some off roading, pull a tent trailer and a 18' boat on occasion. Now for the smile factor: I've got 102,000 miles on the same brakes! The Chevy service writer said the rear brakes are 50% worn and the front brakes are 25% worn. I took my Avalanche in because I was worried my brakes may need replacing after so many miles.
I am now a firm believer in the OEM brakes, and when it comes time to replace them, I will definitely go with the original. I think so many people wear brakes out quicker because of their driving habits. I know my brakes have lasted because I'm easy on them. I leave space between me and the other vehicles in front, and I use my engine for braking when going down hill.
 
I agree, stay with the OEM brake pads. I have 76K miles. and I still have about 50% left.

Checked records it was 80% left.

Parking brakes still good and original.
 
Still have my stock pads and sitting arond 73K
 
After lifting my Avalanche I had to replace my emergency brakes around 75,000 miles. It may have been caused by the cable being too tight from raising the vehicle. I have read some posts from others replacing their emergency brakes prematurely, but my case might be self inflicted.
 
Just got my rear brakes replaced for the fist time with over 100K miles on them. Had the shop put OEM brkas on it. They were more expensive, but worth every penny.
 
Over 85K and still running original brakes.  For me that's a freaking record.  I usually get 25-30K out of brakes and 20K out of tires :)

The tires are still running on track, however.
 
Hi,
Happy to say;
92K on rear before replacement
107K on front, studying up on the site for replacement soon.
 
RENORCR said:
I agree, stay with the OEM brake pads. I have 76K miles and I still have about 50% left.
Click to expand...

ditto.  Got a tire rotation at Discount Tire, and looked at the brakes.  I have 75,000 miles and have around 50% left
 
Over 95K, still on originals.

This from someone who tends to need to replace brakes with tires, at around 30K :) 
 
87,000 and I'm on my second set of rotors and about to do my third brake pads because right now they shake the truck when i stop.
 
Still on my OEM pads 75K 5 yrs 10 months
 
ygmn said:
Still on my OEM pads 75K 5 yrs 10 months
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ygmn said:
Still have my stock pads and sitting arond 73K
Click to expand...

Wow ygmn, only 2k miles in almost 4 months?  What, you only drive to and from the grocery store on Sundays?  I put that many miles on my AV every 3 weeks or so....tell me your secret.  My AV is just over 2 years old and just rolled 55k miles.  But I am still on my stock brake pads..
 
trAVelingman said:
Wow ygmn, only 2k miles in almost 4 months? What, you only drive to and from the grocery store on Sundays? I put that many miles on my AV every 3 weeks or so....tell me your secret. My AV is just over 2 years old and just rolled 55k miles. But I am still on my stock brake pads..
Click to expand...

He doesn't drive his truck, he just drives us crazy.
 
trAVelingman said:
Wow ygmn, only 2k miles in almost 4 months? What, you only drive to and from the grocery store on Sundays? I put that many miles on my AV every 3 weeks or so....tell me your secret. My AV is just over 2 years old and just rolled 55k miles. But I am still on my stock brake pads..
Click to expand...
work at home.

drive to airport 2-4 times a month.

I drive My lawnmower more then the AVY
 
ygmn said:
work at home.

drive to airport 2-4 times a month.

I drive My lawnmower more then the AVY
Click to expand...

Well there you go, I make 2-4 trips to the airport (75 miles round trip) every week.... :E:
 
At about 35K my emergency brake pedal would go to the floor and not hold on a hill. Wen to the dealer who said my back pads were worn (but not the front?!?). they replaced the pads, adjusted. Worked OK for a while. Now same thing. Now at 87 K and still on original pads for front.
Drive mainly highway and hauled my 5K lbs boat for 3 years during the summer. Was good to pull, hard to stop!
 
I replace my rear just because they were making too much noise. I had about 130K miles. I am stilling riding on the original front with 170K miles. I probably have 50% left on the fronts.

The only problem I have is that they are noisy. I have taken them off and cleaned and lubed everything and I still have noisy brakes.

 
Ok here is a little tid bit that is not widely known and the dealer will not tell you. The reason why the oem brake pads are lasting so long, is yes partly due to the driving habits, but mainly due to the actual pads on there and the fact that the hydraulic system is in great condition. Mainly the pads. Now we all know that the main supplier for GM would be ACDELCO, but what you do not know is that ACDELCO is not the oem for the pads. The oem pads are AKEBONO pads. These are expensive, but will give you 80,000 to 120,000 miles of life. Oem when looking at brake pads just means that they will fit, not that that is what came on it. At the dealer we would place ACDELCO on them if they could not afford the upgrade to AKEBONO, but because the pads run so high, we actually stopped ordering them because not alot could afford them. Alot of dealers have gone back to just carrying the ACDELCO brand only. Just thought you'd like to know. :cool:
 
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