I'll be doing a pictorial review of the new compared to stock when I get them, I just hope the material of the new is beefier than oem because with all the drilling and slotting of the new, it will make them lighter/weaker unless they are machined with bulkier stock to begin with.

 

I know that just, Napa's premium rotors... had thicker side walls and the vented walls were thicker too.
Not by a whole lot, but noticeable to the eye.
Certainly weighed more.
The great feature is the corrosion resistance. It sure is nice, to not see the outer edge, rusty.

 

Auotozone has lifetime Bosch rotors and semi-metallic lifetime Wagner pads. May try that combo?

 

Never tried the rotors but the pads are good until they require replacement, often! Lifetime is nice until you have to get them warrantied/ replaced and your truck is left on jacks. So its a trade off.

 

I've been surprised about the weight and thicknesses too, factory vs aftermarket. You'd think if anything factory would be thicker. Just goes to show that our factory rotors are crap.

 

In my opinion it is not the rotors - my pads were so tight that I thought something was going to break trying to pry the pads out - I believe the culprit is the anti squeal clips and maybe rust that squeezes the brake pads so tight that they can't relax when the brake pedal is released - which is much like driving around with your left foot on the brake pedal all the time.
I took my dremel tool and a cut off wheel and ground some more clearance into the caliper bracket to loosen the pads enough that they aren't making constant contact! 38k now with no problems - did my modifications around 20k when I found the problem. I think the pads shouldn't be loose but shouldn't be real tight either.
Something to check into.

 

I just made a little more room for the "ears" that are on the brake pads - so they can slide as designed.

 

They really are. Imo, they should be at least... 2 to 3 inches bigger in diameter.
Maybe another piston inside might do the trick.

 

After 70,000 miles on admittedly curvy and hilly coastal roads, I am convinced that the brakes on my 2011 are barely adequite from the standpoint of not creating vibrations with even moderate use. I think based on the number of complaint posts, that brake size and design is the achilles heals of these trucks. I am not talking about towing, just every day use. I am an older driver who does not speed and ride brakes hard.

 

I was comparing my nephews Jeep Patriot yesterday.
The rotors were identical in diameter.
We know ours aren't thicker, so shouldn't the rotor and caliper, be just a little bigger, than a half as heavy tiny SUV?
Just thinking...out loud.