NHTSA Complaint #766854 — 1998 DODGE DAKOTA

WHILE PERFORMING A BRAKE INSPECTION ON THIS VEHICLE I FOUND THAT THE DISC BRAKE PADS THAT ARE USED ON THIS VEHICLE INCLUDE WHAT THEY ARE CALLING A "SHIM" THAT GETS GLUED ONTO BOTH THE INBOARD AND OUTBOARD SHOES WHICH AS NEAR AS I CAN TELL ACTS AS SOME SORT OF CUSHION BETWEEN THE PHENOLIC (PLASTIC) BRAKE CALIPER PISTON AND THE BRAKE PAD IN ORDER TO KEEP THE BRAKE PAD RIVET HEADS FROM COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE PHENOLIC (PLASTIC) CALIPER PISTON AND CAUSING THE CALIPER PISTON TO WEAR PREMATURELY OR EVEN CRACK. THIS "SHIM" IS MADE OF FERROUS METAL AND IS ONLY ABOUT A 32ND OF AN INCH THICK. WITH THE COMBINATION OF HEAT,STRESS AND SALT THAT IS USED ON MICHIGAN ROADWAYS THIS FERROUS METAL "SHIM" IS ENTIRELY INADEQUATE FOR THE INTENDED PURPOSE AND HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY IN LESS THAN FOUR YEARS CAUSING THE CALIPER PISTON TO CRACK. A CRACKED CALIPER PISTON IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND CAN LEAD TO COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. IF THIS PART WERE MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL RATHER THAN FERROUS METAL IT WOULD GREATLY REDUCE THE CORROSION OF THIS PART AND INSURE THE SAFETY OF ALL CONCERNED. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE NHTSA IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE AS EVEN THE AFTERMARKET BRAKE PADS INCLUDE THE SAME TYPE OF SHIM.*AK