I have to replace the front brake rotors on both my 2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cap 4 x 2 and on my 2000 Intrepid ES (3.2L) as they are warped. The Intrepid also needs front pads and I am looking to upgrade the Ram's front pads. I have read the recent thread on ceramic pads and I was already thinking of using ceramic pads on both vehicles.

As some of you may know, the front brake rotors on the LH cars were never adequate and as a result, they are prone to warpage.

My Ram has the towing package and 20" rims with 55 aspect ratio tires and I tow to Carlisle, PA from central CT, about 300 miles one way and also do some other towing over shorter distances. Car and trailer weight is probably around 5500 - 6000 pounds plus there is usually some weight in the truck bed for the Carlisle trip as I set up in the swap meet. This year I may be towing my 74 Dodge Van to Carlisle. My concern is that front rotors on my Ram are prone to warping, especially after or during towing. The stock factory replacement pads wear great.

I am looking for better stopping power on both vehicles and I would like to, if possible, avoid future rotor warping and I was wondering if anyone had any experience with or can provide feedback on:

For the Ram, ceramic pads vs. pads designed specifically for light trucks & SUV's.

For the Ram & the Intrepid, using slotted, drilled or cryogenic treated rotors.

Any brand recommendations and the best place to buy them? (I am a rock auto fan.)

The Ram gets used for about 5000 - 6000 miles per year and the Intrepid gets used for about 7500 - 10,000 per year as we are a three daily driver vehicle household. A final consideration is that neither of these vehicles are garaged and rust and road salt exposure are factors that need to be taken into consideration. Like most of us, I need to spend my money wisely and don't want to spend more than I need to in order to increse braking performance and get better rotor life than I have been getting on the thin, light weight factory spec. rotors that these vehicles currently have.

Thanks in advance for any input you can provide.

Bill

Nobody has any recommendations? Please help as I don't want to be at the mercy of a tire rack salesperson etc...

Bill

I work for a rotor manufacturing company. The cyrogenic stuff is BS. I'd go for the Raybestos AT or NAPA premium damped iron rotors along with high quality ceramic pads. The premuim rotors really are produced to a tighter tolerence and from a superior iron formula. If for whatever reason you are frequently over-heating your braking system, no rotor will completely solve the problem. You might want to read this: http://www.aa1car.com/library/raybestos_rotor_warning.pdf

Are you tightening your lugs nuts evenly with a torque wrench? I used to have an issue with warped rotors on the front of my pickup until I started torqing them to spec. It does matter.

I'm on my second set of pads and have yet to turn the rotors or have any rotor related issues and the truck stops great. Don't turn the rotors unless you have too.

Thanks for the input. While the lug nuts are not being torqued to specs, they are not being overtightened as they are always tightened in the typical pattern so that they can be loosened with normal effort with a X style lug wrench.

Bill