A query about my brakes and the maintenance I have done since owning the vehicle. I bought the truck with 9500 km and now have 214000 km. I always service my vehicle at the recomended intervals and do the majority of the recommended service work. This maintenance is done exclusively at Ford dealerships.

Front brakes were changed for the first time at 145000 km. I had to change the front brakes again 48000 km later. Service report today show 8mm remaining on the lining.

Rear brakes were changed for the first time at 194000 km. Service report today shows 6mm remaining on the lining (only 20000 km on them). According to the service report, 5mm of lining throws a yellow flag.

How is it possible I got such good use out of my OEM brakes and such crappy use of what the dealership puts on? Are the brakes the dealer uses that poor quality? Will they use OEM if I ask? Would there be a substantial price difference?

 

Did they put on new rotors or at least resurface them? That would explain the accelerated wear on the brake pads. Anytime you replace pads you should give them a new surface on the rotors or they will wear prematurely.

It's also entirely possible they used cheap vato zone pads and charged you for the better more expensive OEM pads.

 

5mm is still a lot of pad.

I'd take it to an independent shop that specializes in brakes and get premium aftermarket components. I got 65k (miles) out of my OEM front pads, replaced them with Centric premium rotors and ceramic pads, and I have 115k on them with some still left. At 180k the OEM rears are still good.

Some brake specialists give you a lifetime warranty on pads and rotors - all you pay is labor when they need replacing again.

 

I would pull the wheels and look at them yourself. Brake jobs are a huge cash cow. It wouldn't be the first time a shop has told someone they needed brakes when they didn't or worse yet charged someone for a brake job that was never needed or done.

You may also need new calipers or rotors. Sticking calipers or rotors that are in bad shape will eat up brakes pretty fast too.

 

If the pads are wearing out that fast, they are using cheap pads. It keeps you coming back to give them mo money.

 

Original front brake change out included machine of rotors. 2nd time front brakes were changed, they installed new rotors. New rotors on back were done at same time as back brakes. I'll have to do some investigating then. It certainly doesn't appear to be what it should. My driving habits and terrain have not changed.

Thank you all for your input.

 

I personally change out my own pads. I also have a Mustang 5.0 that I track. I've fallen in love with EBC for track/heavy duty towing pads and Bosch for nice quiet, low dust daily driving. They last forever. If resurfacing/buying rotors doesn't seem to fix it, you can always buy these pads off of Amazon (after verifying part number for your truck), take them to the shop, and tell them to install those specific pads. After buying a new jack I can swap out all 4 pads/rotors and bleed the brakes in an hour using nothing more than common private garage supplies.