1998 Ranger – One Front Wheel Getting More Dust

[kpgubert]

As the title says, one of my front wheels (the driver side) has been collecting more brake dust for the last 100k + miles. I use Performance Friction Brake pads (by far the best for these trucks, IMHO), and they seem to be almost dustless on the other trucks we've used them on.

The two sides don't seem to wear the pads a lot differently, but it still seems to me that something isn't right. Sometime soon I plan on doing my bi-yearly brake fluid change and bleed (yes, I'm anal about brake fluid) and I would like to try and correct this problem.

The question is, where should I start? Should I change a caliper? If so, which one? I could do both... How about brake hoses? I've had these come apart internally before on other cars, but they were much more obvious – aka, a caliper obviously hanging up. I have checked these and they don't appear to be hanging up, at least not consistently. I've obviously tried bleeding the brakes many times.

Am I missing something? Has anyone else had this happen? The truck is the one in my sig.

Thanks!

 

[adsm08]

If the side collecting dust isn't wearing the pads out faster that would qualify as strange. No signs of one side over heating I assume, nothing turning red or rusty.

Are you as good about tire rotations as you are about brake fluid changes?

 

[kpgubert]

I should have stated that rather the side with dust isn't worn a lot more. I suppose there is a small difference, but not a lot. I attached a picture of the pads I just replaced. The top pair is from the dusty side. They were on for 60-80k miles, IIRC. I replaced them with new pads and new rotors. Still having the same problem.

I do "rotate" (front to back and switch sides) the tires every ~15k miles. At least with the General Grabber AT2s I am using now I seem to be pretty prone to scalloping – hence why I do the front to back thing. But that's probably a topic for another thread sometime in the future...

 

[adsm08]

You caliper or slides are sticking. Notice how the lower pad in the top set is rust-colored, starting to separate from the backer, and probably heat checked on the face? Those are all signs of excessive heat. Get some good quality dielectric grease and goob the slide pins up really nice. Replace the caliper if you want, but I don't think the caliper itself is the issue.

The hoses are cheap enough that it might not hurt to do them just for PM.


Also, I generally try to do tire rotations every 5000 miles. Bring the rear tires forward and cross the fronts as they go back. It will help with your scalloping issues.

 

[kpgubert]

Good eye on the rust color! I did not notice that. Thanks! However, I don't think sticky pins are the problem. I'm very attentive to greasing the pins with high-temperature disc brake grease every time I have it apart. I haven't found them sticky since the first time I did brakes on it (more than 150k ago). I will check them again when I do the fluid. Also, the cars that I've had apart with sticky pins show signs of the inside pad wearing noticeably more than the outside pad.

Thanks for the information. It sounds like I need to concentrate on the dusty side, not the clean side. I will probably change hoses on both sides just for kicks. I may do the caliper on the dusty side as well, seeing as they are only ~$40.

 

[adsm08]

Good eye on the rust color! I did not notice that.

Brakes, batteries and tires. My employers are big on selling those three things and so we are told to look for any signs that any of them might need replaced. Rust colored parts from over heating are one of the easier signs to spot once you are looking for it.

 

[kpgubert]

Well, I definitely learned something new from it.

And, I will step up my tire rotation to every 5k and follow your sequence.

Thanks again!