Should I be concerned? Brakes and Mexico trip

17TXLTZ · May 4, 2018

As the title might suggest I am planning on taking a trip down Mexico for parent's anniversary. Reason for my question comes from a previous trip. I went down there Dec 2016 in my '15 Sierra, and lets just say I had to get my brakes changed down there at a little corner shop. My rotors were all ridged up and I figured lets be safe than sorry. Mind you, before I left, i had 27K miles or so, and had a Chevrolet dealer just do a $20 brake check, all came back fine. When I got back, I took my busted up brake pads to a GMC dealer and they did an entire brake job, changed the Mexican pads out, new rotors, updated caliper bolts, new calipers...free of charge, still under warranty. But they did not give me much information as to what might have caused the issue.

I now have a '17 Silverado with just about 12k miles and had it since new, should I get a brake check done before the trip or it'll be a waste for the mileage?

Should I just assume the brakes were defective? Any tips to maybe prevent the issue if it was not a defect? Maybe take the wheels off when I arrive and power wash the components and get rid of any foreign objects...just thinking out loud here, any recommendations are greatly appreciated.

17TXLTZ · May 4, 2018

catpartsman · May 4, 2018

My guess is you had faulty components or something. My 15 Sierra has 64000 and brakes still check out excellent. I don’t think I’d be worried about it with the mileage you have.

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krzyd · May 4, 2018

As long as the brakes don't get any Mexican water on them you should be okay.

Ichie123 · May 5, 2018

I’ve got 105k miles on mine now with factory brakes. Just stay mindful and check every now and then.

NWI Denali · May 5, 2018

I would be more worried about mexico than the brakes

Logan Lanfear · May 5, 2018

Brakes on these trucks should last forever if youre decent with them. Heavy towing without trailer brakes will wipe them. So will lots of stop and go traffic and interstate traffic too. Driven mildly, they should last over 100k. Especially the rears.

Imcrazy · May 5, 2018

40k Miles on my 2016 SIlverado and brakes still work like new..

seamus2154 · May 5, 2018

These brakes will last a VERY long time in clean conditions. I suspect the issue you had was one I have had with my wife's vehicle and my own Sierra in our first year living in a rural area here in Florida. Started the same way with light grooves on rotors. We had moved to an area where we had to regularly drive on a dirty dusty roads not paved. Although 90% of our driving was on paved roads and highway this still happened and was a learning experience. When I went to warranty my brand new truck 7 months in they looked at my address and said no. Said it was from impregnanted dirt from dirt roads. I argued and they explianed they see it all the time at that dealer from only my area. My wife's VW had the same issue but they did warranty it once. It did it again. We moved 2 years later and I have never had that issue again on several new vehicles....that never see dirt roads!!! On all my GMC's I see over 70K on brake pads which is incredible and have heard of guys over 100K.

Edited May 6, 2018 by seamus2154

Doublebase · May 5, 2018

I just think it's funny that you are worrying about brakes with 12k miles on them and not traveling to Mexico. I mean they are murdering people in Mexico...walking right through the resort lobbies and gunning people down on the beach. I went there two years ago and I'll never go back.

As for the brakes, you should be fine. I wouldn't even bother havi them checked. Looking at that picture of those guys working on your truck right on the street like that?? Wow, I mean it looks like they're on a hill too. Defective brake pads for sure.

Imcrazy · May 6, 2018

I just think it's funny that you are worrying about brakes with 12k miles on them and not traveling to Mexico. I mean they are murdering people in Mexico...walking right through the resort lobbies and gunning people down on the beach. I went there two years ago and I'll never go back.

As for the brakes, you should be fine. I wouldn't even bother havi them checked. Looking at that picture of those guys working on your truck right on the street like that?? Wow, I mean it looks like they're on a hill too. Defective brake pads for sure.

I’m pretty sure the OP’s hometown is in Mexico...

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Doublebase · May 6, 2018

1 hour ago, Imcrazy said:

I’m pretty sure the OP’s hometown is in Mexico...

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Well now I feel a little awkward...

17TXLTZ · May 6, 2018

20 hours ago, Doublebase said:

I just think it's funny that you are worrying about brakes with 12k miles on them and not traveling to Mexico. I mean they are murdering people in Mexico...walking right through the resort lobbies and gunning people down on the beach. I went there two years ago and I'll never go back.

As for the brakes, you should be fine. I wouldn't even bother havi them checked. Looking at that picture of those guys working on your truck right on the street like that?? Wow, I mean it looks like they're on a hill too. Defective brake pads for sure.

It is not as bad as the media makes it seem like...I have traveled down there multiple times, drive at night, etc. and luckily have not encountered any issues. I am more afraid to drive around late at night here in the US in bad parts of town than i am over there...

17TXLTZ · May 6, 2018

21 hours ago, seamus2154 said:

These brakes will last a VERY long time in clean conditions. I suspect the issue you had was one I have had with my wife's vehicle and my own Sierra in our first year living in a rural area here in Florida. Started the same way with light grooves on rotors. We had moved to an area where we had to regularly drive on a dirty dusty roads not paved. Although 90% of our driving was on paved roads and highway this still happened and was a learning experience. When I went to warranty my brand new truck 7 months in they looked at my address and said no. Said it was from impregnanted dirt from dirt roads. I argued and they explianed they see it all the time at that dealer from only my area. My wife's VW had the same issue but they did warranty it once. It did it again. We moved 2 years later and I have never had that issue again on several new vehicles....that never see dirt roads!!! On all my GMC's I see over 70K on brake pads which is incredible and have heard of guys over 100K.

I imagine that is what happened, I had actually just returned that day from my part of the country to my finances city...mine is nothing but dirt roads, I assume they got caked in dirt and mud and sad, hopped onto the toll roads with nothing but hills and braked like crazy and ended up burning them out.

seamus2154 · May 7, 2018

Thats what happens, and those pockets get hot and degrade the pad is what the guy told me. Happened to 3 of my cars only living there and they were two very dry dusty years back then. Either way I live in the same area of south Florida just near the beach now, all paved roads and have never had the issue again, so looking back I now believe the dealer from then. Maybe try to give a blast from a hose into the pads when coming off the dirt roads if possible and flush them a bit? Good luck