2008 Brake pad/rotor questions

[nathan faught]

We've got a 08 expediton and I was looking at the brake pads today and they seem to have plenty of life for the eye test, but the if I run my fingers across the front rotors there are circular grooves all around them and the back brakes squeak just a tiny bit while stopping (not always just sometimes). I don't feel any pulsing while stopping and the vehicle stops very quickly sill.

I guess what do the grooves on the front rotors indicate and what about the random rear brake squeal? We just bought this vehicle so I'm not sure when the brakes/pads were last changed but like mentioned the pads look good still when I looking into the rim

Thanks!

 

[GalaxyPilot]

Maybe some kind of material stuck between the pad and rotor...but I wouldnt think anything would last in there for too long. Could also just be some cheap pads.

 

[Habbibie]

Sounds like everything you said is normal, the rotors to have groves on them is typical of solid rotor(not slotted/drilled).

Pads squeal on occasions is also normal, usually brake dust trapped between the pad & rotor...

Also, the back of the rotor is what wears out faster because that's the pad that gets pressed on the rotor when breaking, the pad you see and mention is a stationary pad and just rides the surface of the rotor.

Ceramic & semi-metallic pads wear out slower but are noisy especially the break in time for ceramics, but they are cleaner too. Your rig has to have one of those 2 types installed.

Check the back of the rotor, if it's deeply grooved and scored then maybe it's time is ending soon.

 

[USMCBuckWild]

I prefer ceramics. Typically less dust and for the most part more resistant to heat fade.