Brakes

[tdog 0]

There were certain laws in this universe that were never meant to be broken.

The law that car brakes NEED to be replaced, say every 50,000 or 60,000 miles is one of those laws.

I took my 4Runner into the shop at 60,000 miles and they said, "You still have 85% left." I did not believe them.

Now, at 100,000 miles I took it in again, "it is squeaking, the brakes have to have worn out by now."

I just got a call - 35% of the brakes are left - and unless I promise the brake shop to not bring it back again until it has 130,000 miles, they will not give me my key back because they are sick of seeing me for unneeded worry.

So how often do you replace Your brakes. What type of car/truck?

[BillyVance 35]

It depends on what kind of driving you do.

If it's mostly city driving - i.e. a lot of stop and go driving, you replace them more often. Another example is if you live on a mountain and have to go down it everyday to get to work.

If it's mostly highway driving - they last longer.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[tdog 0]

Duh.

I drive the mountains a bit for sking every winter.

I also drive stop and go traffic to work 10 miles each way, 35MPH speed limits, and 20+ stop lights.

Except for the weekend trips to the DZ - all city...

[yardhippie 0]

when the "squeelers", small metal tabs attached to the pads, begin touching the rotors.
OR
when age/use/wear has caused them to malfunction: vibrate excessively, pull to once side, mushy pedal, etc.

Just because they are squeaking, dont mean they are ready to be replaced. It could just be a sign that that your wheels need a good rinsing. Large buildups of brake dust can cause sqeeking.

My vibe had nearly 70k on it and the brakes were no where NEAR ready to be replaced. I just put the third set of pads on my wifes car at 225k.

Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD
"What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me
"Anything you want." ~ female skydiver
Mohoso Rodriguez #865

[BillyVance 35]

Okay, I'm guessing you should be replacing your brake pads every 60,000 miles, however I have had a few occasions where I needed them replaced sooner, plus the rotors turned...

Edited to add: definitely have them checked and cleaned on a regular basis. You'll have them last longer. Just follow the maintenance schedule.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[tdog 0]

Quote

Okay, I'm guessing you should be replacing your brake pads every 60,000 miles, however I have had a few occasions where I needed them replaced sooner, plus the rotors turned...

Meeee toooo... That is why I am shocked that I am going to get twice that! No leaks, no nothing!

I love Toyota 4runners....

[PhreeZone 20]

I'm pushing 70k on my Civic and still have 3.5mm on the fronts and 5.5+ on the rears. I hope to get another 15k out of them.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[DougH 270]

I don't use my brakes. I just repaint by huge steel bumper every 10K.

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[matt1215 0]

I've replaced pads that had plenty of meat left. Replacing pads is fairly cheap, especially when you do it yourself.

I replaced my Mazda's pads at 45k. both to kill an intermittent brake warning light (low fluid), and b/c I have no idea about its previous owner's driving habits.

[unformed 0]

My last brakes I replaced when they stopped working. And by "stopped working" I mean exactly that. I was leaving work one night for my hour commute home and found out my car wasn't stopping. Took it in the next morning. I had not only worn through my brake pads, but also my rotors and something else (calipers maybe?). They had to rebuild everything.

Don't do that. It's expensive.

This ad space for sale.

[yardhippie 0]

Quote

I've replaced pads that had plenty of meat left. Replacing pads is fairly cheap, especially when you do it yourself.

I replaced my Mazda's pads at 45k. both to kill an intermittent brake warning light (low fluid), and b/c I have no idea about its previous owner's driving habits.

But why?

Do you replace the tires even though they arent worn out just because you didnt know what the previous drivers habit's were?

If they work properly, and are within wear limits, why would one replace them?

Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD
"What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me
"Anything you want." ~ female skydiver
Mohoso Rodriguez #865

[quade 4]

Quote

It depends on what kind of driving you do.
(snip)
Another example is if you live on a mountain and have to go down it everyday to get to work.

If you're using your brakes a lot driving downhill, you're doing something horribly wrong which will probably lead to a failure at exactly the wrong time.

Do yourself a favor and drive in a lower gear.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[ryoder 1,590]

In November of 1992 I took delivery of a new 1993 Jeep Wrangler. In December of 2005 I traded it in for a new 2006 Jeep Wrangler. The '93 had 90,000 miles and still had the original brakes, clutch, and exhaust system.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[lekstrom10k 0]

The noise you hear is exactly what you are supposed to hear.They are called wear bars. Its the manufacturers way of telling you they are getting low. If you pull a tire to check your front pads The outers sre easiest to see but its usually the left inner thats the worst. Its the closet and most movable from the master cylinder. Then the right inner. I just did brakes on my sons Saturn . I wasnt getting the pedal I wanted. It seemed like the master cylinder wasnt doing its job. After talking to 8 or 9 parts suppliers that didnt have one in stock any way , one said did you deactivate your "ABS" , No , a series of steps including disconnecting the battery ground cable did the job. Why was he the only one who knew this, Be aware next time you buy stuff, Your salesman may have just got promoted from shagging shopping carts.

[monkycndo 0]

120K on my '91 Nissan truck named Betsy, still has original brakes and clutch with plenty left on the pads. Going to sell her before I have to replace them.

50 donations so far. Give it a try.

You know you want to spank it
Jump an Infinity

[DrewEckhardt 0]

I get less than 30,000 miles out of front brakes on my Audi A4 and more out of rear brakes. I've only had it six years, which hasn't been enough time to make it through a set of rear brakes without the previous owner's help and different driving habbits.

I get less than 10,000 miles out of front brakes on my Triumph Sprint motorcycle, and about 4000 out of rear pads.

[Michele 1]

I put 110 K on my jetta and never changed the brakes. I used the gear shift a lot, but never had to replace the clutch, either.

I hope to get similiar performance from my Honda S2000.

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[Dumpster 0]

I just wait 'til they go down metal-to-metal, it makes a really cool grinding noise - then replace pads and rotors both. If you wait that long, the guy at the shop won't argue with you, and will be happy to turn your worthless cash into a nice fat paycheck for himself.

Easy Does It

[tdog 0]

Quote

I just wait 'til they go down metal-to-metal, it makes a really cool grinding noise - then replace pads and rotors both. If you wait that long, the guy at the shop won't argue with you, and will be happy to turn your worthless cash into a nice fat paycheck for himself.

I love the place I go to... Bear Frame and Axel...

$72.50 = Alignment, Full oil change, Front end inspection and Brake Inspection. I don't know how they stay in business - as the labor for the oil change was $5 and the oil was $16...

When one of our company trucks got an estimate at the Dealer for $4200 for major front end and brake work - Bear did all the work for $600.

I don't think my hard earned money will turn into their paycheck even if I wait that long. They probably will pay me to do the work, since they are always so cheap.

[Dumpster 0]

That's the beauty of going to a small repair shop rather than a dealership. What ever work I don't do myself, I take to a local shop here in town. When my Ranger needed a new clutch, just to humor myself, I went to the dealer - $900 bones including parts. My local shop? $300.00, and he asked me to go pick up the parts myself. Totally rocks.

One shop I went to in NY is run by a high school friend - Oil Change? Stop by at the end of the day with a twenty dollar bill and a twelve-pack. Hang out, catch a buzz and you might get asked to help stuff a transmission before going on to the oil change. It's all good.

Easy Does It

[tdog 0]

Quote

That's the beauty of going to a small repair shop rather than a dealership.

This place has 12 bays, and 4 guys working at the service counter - and lots of guys working in the shop. It is as big as a dealer...

But yes - it is so awesome...

[Dumpster 0]

But doesn't have the overhead of a dealership. Sounds awesome!

Easy Does It

[tdog 0]

Quote

But doesn't have the overhead of a dealership. Sounds awesome!

You mean the ability to receive free factory training, profits from parts sales to the independents and do-it-yourselfers, and wholesale parts for the work they do???

[Dumpster 0]

Yeah, and that too!

I know both independant and delaership techs, there's pros and cons to both -

Easy Does It