99 Blazer 4x4 Brake issues

[travis2822]

I have a 99 s-10 Blazer 4x4. I have owned the truck for almost 5 years. I have had to change the rear disc brakes about 12 times. The last time I did it I bought new rotors. That was last summer, they are already bad again. I usually get the mid range priced ones at advance auto parts. Does anyone have any ideas what I can do to keep from having to replace them so much. Or does anyone else have the same problem? I would get better pads if I knew that they would last longer. The fronts I have only had to replace 2 or 3 times in 5 years.

[rlith]

Originally Posted by travis2822

I have a 99 s-10 Blazer 4x4. I have owned the truck for almost 5 years. I have had to change the rear disc brakes about 12 times. The last time I did it I bought new rotors. That was last summer, they are already bad again. I usually get the mid range priced ones at advance auto parts. Does anyone have any ideas what I can do to keep from having to replace them so much. Or does anyone else have the same problem? I would get better pads if I knew that they would last longer. The fronts I have only had to replace 2 or 3 times in 5 years.

Well it depends on a few things. Midrange pads are usually fine. Are the sliders free or are they stuck? Could be your calipers are heating up too much. Have you pressure tested the brake lines in the back? Could be you're getting too much pressure back there. (If so, your proportioning valve is built into the abs box). How many miles do you put on your truck? Try changing your driving habits and coast more. If you have a heavy breaking foot, it can contribute to this problem as well.

[muddog321]

You should be getting about 50k out of a set of brakes and at least that from the rotors - in fact you should be able to tun them once so 100k. The rear calipers on 98up are the single piston plastic that loves to stick or get slightly jammed in the housing so I always change them when I do rears. Hoses may be failing so change them too. One set of the cheap Chinese rotors I got (same place) were badly cast and started grabbing after a few thousand miles and the store replaced them - you could see 2 of the 4 rotors had defects. Mid grade pads are fine, got them in 4 Blazers - put dust out but stop well. High priced ceramics sometimes need more heat to work and actually stop worst in regular driving but better when you get the brakes to the smoking point. Does this Blazer stop perfectly straight even when you get on the brakes and hear the ABS working - it should if the system is working correctly. You may get a slight wag on the first hard stop if you haven't done it lately or the rotors have dirt/rust on them.

[travis2822]

Yes it stops smooth and evenly whether I do it hard or soft. What part do you change everytime you do the rears? They are ready to change again so I'll be doing that soon. Other than dust covers is there anything that I can do to lower the amount of dust from the front?

[muddog321]

I change the rear calipers using rebuilts for about $35 each. See Bendix has new ceramics out at Advance auto for $65 that claim to solve all your problems so maybe try those.
http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...pe=219&ptset=A

[corning_d3]

That's exactly why GM went back to drums in the rear.... The only suggestion I have is to replace the rotors with damped iron one's(NOT cheap one's) and ceramic pads.