I changed front and rear break pads today. One thing struck me as really odd after hearing all the stories about the rear rotors being rusted on. After I got the calipers off, the rear rotors were nice and loose. The truck has 103K miles on it and this is the first time the rear pads were changed. I didn't take the rotors off, but they would have almost fell off. I thought for sure they would be rusted on solid with all the driving in water that I do. I live in South Florida, and we have HEAVY down pours every day in the summer. I live in an older town that has poor water drainage. Everyday I blast through water 6" deep. The water gets a foot deep in areas by my house. All that I can figure is only the guys who live in areas were they salt the roads must have this problem. I also checked out my rear lower trailing arms, zero rust.

 

Why wouldn't you take the rotors off to at least inspect the parking brake shoes and mechanism? You were right there!

 

I probably should have. I never use the parking brake, the state of Florida is as flat as a pancake!
I do make it a habit to mash the brake pedal hard a few times a month as I back out of my drive way, I figure that should keep the parking brake in adjustment.

 

That doesn't do anything, there is no automatic adjuster for the parking brake. You have to manually adjust them down at the rear wheels.

 

The problem is definately more common in trucks that live in the rust belt. You have to realize that in many states they use so much salt on the roads, that in winter cars turn white with the stuff. Those are the guys with issues. My truck was originally from Calif, and then moved to Colo, I don't have any of those rust issues on mine either. I would not have bought one from a rust prone area.

 

Dang, I'll have to see how well they are holding.
At least it will be easy to adjust them if they need it.