Brake pads need replacement after 23k miles

[Ryan95]

I have a 2021 silverado trail boss. I bought it brand new and has only 23,000 miles on it. The other day I got a message on my display saying service brake pad monitor. Keep in mind before this my breaks said 80% or higher, I can't remember the exact numbers. I took it to my local dealership and they said I needed new brakes and rotars on the rear brakes. They said they were 3mm and my rotars are warped. I told them to only replace the pads. They also told me that my fronts were at 5mm and should be replaced soon as well. I'm no mechanic but I've never had brake pads wear out even close to 23,000 miles. I don't tow anything with my truck and i dont ride the brakes. It doesn't make sense to me especially with the rear wearing out faster then the front. Has anyone else had this issue? I'm not very happy about it! 

[Transient]

You might want to get a 2nd opinion, imo.  I have a 2020 with 56,000 miles on the odometer.  I'm still on the original brake pads.  Only issue I have is the rear brakes squeaking when I first start driving.  At the 2nd stop sign in my neighborhood they are quiet.

[Jus Cruisin]

A long time ago I had a paper route. I was replacing brake pads every 3 months. Front rotors would last a year. Brakes wouldn't last much over 3,000 miles. You can't just use miles as a gauge. Commuters that hop on the interstate for 50+ miles at a time without ever touching the brakes could easily hit 60,000+ miles on a set. If the calipers are hanging up and not taking pressure off the pads, they'll get used up fast. You can check them yourself with this simple gauge. https://www.harborfreight.com/brake-lining-thickness-gauge-set-58799.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12144811130&campaignid=12144811130&utm_content=132904850579&adsetid=132904850579&product=58799&store=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA8NKtBhBtEiwAq5aX2D3ufA3cvMNYXq-LdGrAc3c7HtbDBz-6Pds3yxM8NNNo5Fpdnfr2zRoCSWQQAvD_BwE

 

Your fingernail will give you an idea how the rotor is by seeing how it catches the edge. 

[KARNUT]

Of course that’s not normal. In my working days traveling 50K plus miles a year. I never replaced brakes before trading in. Even my in town only vehicles do close to 100K miles. Some people may say you haven’t bought a new truck in a few years what do you know? Well I certainly wouldn’t call that progress. Sure there’s exceptions yours doesn’t sound like one.

[Ryan95]

Do you guys think if I call GM and complain about this, they will do something about it? I'm just wondering what my next step could be. I don't want to keep replacing brake pads at the rate I'm going through them. I love my truck and plan on keeping it for a long time. Thanks for all the feedback  

[Jus Cruisin]

Brake pads are a wear item not covered by warranty. Your brake system is IF you are still within 3/36.

[Transient]

5 hours ago, Ryan95 said:

Do you guys think if I call GM and complain about this, they will do something about it? I'm just wondering what my next step could be. I don't want to keep replacing brake pads at the rate I'm going through them. I love my truck and plan on keeping it for a long time. Thanks for all the feedback  

GM won't do a thing for you.  It's not what you know, but what you can prove.  You don't have the old pads you had replaced and therefore can't prove anything.  Looking up videos of how to replace the brake pads on these trucks, it appears this might be the easiest vehicle to do that on.  All you have to do is put the truck in brake service mode first so it'll back the pads off the rotor.  Looking at the brake life monitor on my truck, the front pads on my truck should not need replacing until around 100k miles with the rear pads at about double that mileage. 

[silveradosid]

don't let the monitor fool you. my truck at 55k said the front had 76% and the rear would  was 78%. then for some strange reason it would pop up a message of new pads detected, do you want to reset. i was going to switch back to my summer tires i would check it then. the fronts would have made 100k but the rears which was still at 78% were worn down to the point that the sensor wore a groove in the rotor. don't trust this system to be correct.

[Jac365]

On 1/27/2024 at 2:51 AM, Ryan95 said:

I have a 2021 silverado trail boss. I bought it brand new and has only 23,000 miles on it. The other day I got a message on my display saying service brake pad monitor. Keep in mind before this my breaks said 80% or higher, I can't remember the exact numbers. I took it to my local dealership and they said I needed new brakes and rotars on the rear brakes. They said they were 3mm and my rotars are warped. I told them to only replace the pads. They also told me that my fronts were at 5mm and should be replaced soon as well. I'm no mechanic but I've never had brake pads wear out even close to 23,000 miles. I don't tow anything with my truck and i dont ride the brakes. It doesn't make sense to me especially with the rear wearing out faster then the front. Has anyone else had this issue? I'm not very happy about it! 

Ya, I posted a similar thread. 2019 AT4 brakes wiped out at 21,500 miles. Rears worse than fronts (slightly). I did contact GM, was told sorry, it's on your dime but MAYBE we'll float you some GM rewards points after you have them replaced. I took that as an insult. I went with ceramic pads and coated rotors, We'll see how long these last.....

 

Edit to add: started out getting "new pads detected, reset monitor?" and then shifted to "service brake pad monitor"

Edited January 28, 2024 by Jac365
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[Niklasbraun]

On 1/27/2024 at 9:51 AM, Ryan95 said:

I have a 2021 silverado trail boss. I bought it brand new and has only 23,000 miles on it. The other day I got a message on my display saying service brake pad monitor. Keep in mind before this my breaks said 80% or higher, I can't remember the exact numbers. I took it to my local dealership and they said I needed new brakes and rotars on the rear brakes. They said they were 3mm and my rotars are warped. I told them to only replace the pads. They also told me that my fronts were at 5mm and should be replaced soon as well. I'm no mechanic but I've never had brake pads wear out even close to 23,000 miles. I don't tow anything with my truck and i dont ride the brakes. It doesn't make sense to me especially with the rear wearing out faster then the front. Has anyone else had this issue? I'm not very happy about it! 

I'm not a pro, but a bunch of things could make your brakes wear out quicker, like driving conditions, brake material, or even a manufacturing issue. You might wanna hit up another mechanic to get a second take. Oh, and sometimes the brake pad sensor acts up and freaks out early, so it's not a bad idea to rule out any tech glitches too.