Brake Job

[ryan_hermanutz]

My front brakes were almost getting to the point of where they pissed me off everytime I used them, right now they just shudder when coming to a stop from highway speeds or going down a big hill. The truck only has 24k miles on it so I just figured that the crappy rotors needed to be replaced and was planning on doing this afternoon. I took it to a local tire shop who offers free inspections just to make sure that was my problem and then I was going to bring it home and swap out the rotors depending on what shape the pads were in them too. Upon inspection the guy told me that both rotors were trash and that the front right caliper was hanging up and needed to be replaced, so new rotors, pads and calipers would run me $650, and they would turn the rear drums to try and get rid of the squeal. Not really a bad price, but to me that sounds more like let the dealer look at it (1 confirm I really do have that problem. (2 see if that should be covered under warranty, only because it has 24k miles on it. I would expect that pads and rotors would not normally be covered on any kind of warranty, but if a bad caliper caused them to fail prematurely would that be covered?

[Zembonez]

Ryan.

 

At 24K it is ridiculous for the brakes to need replacement. From seeing your posts, I don't think you tow anything super heavy or drive like Michael Schumacher. I don't know if the guy that looked at it knows what he is talking about but if he is correct, I'd march it by the dealer and see what their take is. A bad caliper (if it is actually bad) should be a covered item... and that would give you some leverage on the wear items. Maybe they can go 50/50 on the pads and rotors or something.

 

Worth a shot in my book.

[ryan_hermanutz]

The guys who looked at it are good reputable guys; as a matter of fact I generally base most of my customer service experience up to them. The warranty everything they do and even have a 25,000 mile free replacement warranty on brake pads. Hell they even run out to you in the parking lot when you show up. But it’s at the dealer right now so I will see what they have to say after they have a chance to look it over.

[Zembonez]

Well if the guy was right I believe you have a real warranty issue. Worth a shot man.

[ryan_hermanutz]

Well the dealership called and said nothing was wrong, the rotors are in perfect shape, the pads have 80% left and the calipers are perfect. So I'm somewhere in-between the 2. She did say that they were going to replace the pads just because they have the calipers off. Oh well I guess I will get it back tomorrow and see how it is and probably just stick to my original plan of doing myself.

[Zembonez]

Interesting. It would be somewhat unusual for a caliper to be sticking at only 24K. I guess it's possible that it just needed the slide lubed. They typically would not replace the pads unless they thought there was an issue. Perhaps they also saw the caliper sticking and are doing a courtesy pad replacement. Either way, you win!

 

Way to go sir!

[ryan_hermanutz]

I don't know that it's a complete win, but I'll take it Unless they do something with the rotors, I'm still going to have a shudder under certain conditions. Since 3 hours wasn't going to be enough time for them to do the pads they need to keep it overnight I asked her to check my truck for the 10-05-23-001 TSB for induced pulsation/vibration, which may be the problem anyways. Either way so far this experience is a million times better than any other with this particular dealership so I guess I will chalk this up to a win

[Jsdirt]

I had pulsating brakes at just 40 miles right off the dealership lot. Dealership couldn't fix the problem (and is now out of business - surprise ...), so I dropped about $400 for a set of Delco drums from another dealership at around 10K miles. That worked for about 1,000 miles ... then I brought it in to them to fix ..... was fine for about 20,000 miles so they win I guess. Came back although not as bad. Now I just live with it. Thrown enough money at it, on top of payments & taxes.

 

Are you reading this GM????

[ryan_hermanutz]

It sounds like GM knew of the dealership and that's part of the reason they are no loner in business? Are you hard on your brakes, do you ride your brakes, do you tow fairly often? It's not always GM's fault especially if you have a shitty dealer who doesn't or won't spend any effort to fix a problem only have. Just my .02

[Jsdirt]

I've driven GM products from each of the past 3 decades - in the same manner that I always drive - without ever having this happen. But besides that, pulsation during a test drive with 40 miles on the clock can hardly be my fault.

 

It's just par for the course today, with everything. Companies cut corners any way they can. Used to get 20+ years out of refrigerators & washing machines -- you'll be lucky to get 10 years out of either now.

 

If I were running GM, that truck would have NEVER left the factory in that condition. Had a few other unrelated quality-control issues as well. Not something I'd expect when dropping $30K+ on a vehicle in a crappy economy.

 

What's done is done. My wife will be driving used cars that I'll be repairing, & my truck will be owned by me until there is no sheet metal left. No more new for me.

[ryan_hermanutz]

If it was doing it during the test drive why would you buy that particular one? I also agree that companies cut corners on most anything they can, and sometimes even on things they really shouldn't, but we all do as well. It's a dumb analogy but it works, you only spent 30k+ on your truck, why didn't you offer to pay 40k+? I know, I know asking us consumers to pay $10,000 more than sicker is way past retarded, but in the same breath we demand a product be offered to us at the absolute best price possible of course they are going to have to trim from somewhere. Either way I hope you enjoy your truck to the fullest and I hope you make it last as long as you want it too.

[ryan_hermanutz]

Update:

Well they did a complete brake job, replaced rotors, pads, rebuilt the calipers, and turned the rear drums and chamfered the rear shoes. I've only driven 3 miles but so far it seems to have solved the problem

[Zembonez]

Update:

Well they did a complete brake job, replaced rotors, pads, rebuilt the calipers, and turned the rear drums and chamfered the rear shoes. I've only driven 3 miles but so far it seems to have solved the problem

Awesome! Good thing you checked with the dealer before paying to have it done.