[mstatkus]

232K and I’ve fought this issue now for 5 years. Barely drive it now, but each time it’s a mix of brake light/ABS light, squishy brakes or dragging brakes.
I’ve bled out the fluid, swapped lines, pads, calipers, rotors, brackets.
Only fix that seems to work is smoothing out the iron guides the pads sit on. But each winter with the road treatment rust comes back and screws or up again. These are the worst brakes I’ve ever had on a vehicle. I’ve resorted to spraying anti corrosion WD-40 on the iron guides or grinding them. Its just such a pain. At 12.9MPG also expensive.

 

[Burned]

I use this on the brake slides:

Permatex® Silicone Extreme Brake Parts Lubricant, 8 OZ – Permatex

www.permatex.com

Once the pads are worn out I will be installing the 2003 knuckles and brakes.

 

[mstatkus]

I grinded off this pitting and put some grease, and took it for a 60 mile drive. Passenger side stayed cool, drivers side was a bit warmer. Least at 232K miles the system seems to be aging out. I have replaced everything but the Booster and the Steering knuckles.

 

[der Mond]

Grinding smooth and lubricating the slide rails or replacing with the newer ones is the only fix. Otherwise I think the brakes work just fine for the vehicle. Thanks for the photo mstatkus.

 

[andyvh1959]

Those wear notches on the caliper slide rails are another reason the front brakes on that vintage Dakota are for crap. The calipers "sit" in those notches when you do most of your driving (straight line) and keep the calipers from fully retracting. That leads to brake drag, heat, pad wear, rotor wear. I took a 4" grinder to the slide rails and ground down the rails until the notches were gone. Then applied grease on the rails to reduce the notching process. If anyone makes S/S rail covers for the calipers to ride on that would be an upgrade.

But really, that cheap, simple caliper slide system and single piston calipers are the main reason the 01 Dak brakes suck for feel, wear, feedback. Upgrade to the 2003 Dak knuckles, bigger rotors and two piston calipers and the brake are reported to be MUCH better performance wise. Its on my list of upgrades for my 01 Dak.