2007 Chrysler Town and Country Premature brake wear

BIGPRO

MEMBER
2007 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
35,000 MILES

I purchased a 2007 Chrysler Town & County from a Dodge dealer. The van had 22,000 miles on it with 75% of the front brakes remaing when I purchased it. At 32,000 miles the van required front brakes I beleive they were were less than 10%. Now 6,000 miles later they are down to 50%. Makes me wonder if the brakes were the original or if they had already been changed. The dealer did repalce the right front caliper because the right side wore just a hare more than the left. I drive the back roads and stop maybe 5 times each way to work and I downshift and coast a lot before braking. I have been driiving for 26 years and never have gone through a set of fronts without getting at least 40,000 miles. I cant aford to put a set of front brakes on every 9,000 miles any ideas?

Monday, October 20th, 2008 AT 8:31 PM

5 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
110,176 POSTS

Hi:
9K miles does seem a little too soon, but my wife can do it in 6k. (LOL)

I will assume the rear brakes are drum type.

Anyway, one of the most common reasons for premature front brake wear is rear brake adjustment. In theory, the front brakes should do 60% of the stopping and the rear 40%. However, because most self adjusters never seem to work on the rears, the front do much more of the job causing premature wear.

Keep in mind, it's not uncommon for a Chrysler T/C to average around 12k between brake replacement; however, it sounds like you are very careful with yours and should be more.

My recommendation is to make sure the rear brakes are properly adjusted. It's easy to check. Jack the rear of the van and spin the rear tires. The wheel should have a slight drag on it from the brakes. If it spins freely, the brakes need adjusted.

Let me know if this helps, or if you have any other questions.

Joe

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Thursday, October 23rd, 2008 AT 11:16 AM

BIGPRO

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Why do they only last 12,000 miles. Is there a problem with the material they use to make the brake pads with (assuming rear brakes are correctly adjusted)? If so what about ceramic brake pads? Would you have to change the rotors if you changed to ceramic brake pads. I will check tonight if I have rotors or drums. I do know they (dealer) said rears are about close to being ready to be replaced.

Thanks

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Thursday, October 23rd, 2008 AT 7:25 PM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
110,176 POSTS

Hi Again:

You may be able to get more than that if you're easy on it. It just seems with the weight of the vehicle, something heavier should have been used. As far as ceramic pads should last longer, and no the rotors you have should be fine.

Do you replace your own brakes? What I did with our T&C was purchase lifetime brakes at the local Auto Zone. I'm sure they replaced them at least 6 times. You may consider going that way and just make sure to keep the rear brakes adjusted. We loved ours. The only thing I didn't like was the brakes. Other than that, we put a ton of miles on it and the only other thing I did was replace the starter around 120K. It was AWD too and it went through the snow better than my Ram 1500 4x4.

I'm sure you'll have luck too. Are you the only one who drives it?

Joe

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Thursday, October 23rd, 2008 AT 8:32 PM

BIGPRO

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Hello again

I am the only one that drives the van? The rear brakes are rotors. I put 19,000 miles a year going to work. So I will either check out someplace like you found that guarantees the brakes for lifetime or start doing them my self.

Thanks again

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Thursday, October 23rd, 2008 AT 8:56 PM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
110,176 POSTS

Hi:
If you decide to do them yourself, purchase a good manual for the vehicle and it will give you step by step instructions (w/pictures). Of you could get back to me and I'll try to walk you through it.

Also, since the rear brakes are disc brakes, they can't be adjusted.

Good luck,
Joe

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Friday, October 24th, 2008 AT 10:34 AM