2014 Chrysler Grand Voyager bought new 58.000 miles on clock, having to replace front disc pads for the sixth time. Any answer to this please.
You need a brake specialist to look at your vehicle. Have never heard of going through pads that fast. Has any shop offered any explanation?
Even the worst drivers should get more miles on their brakes.
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Whoa Nellie!
Is that 58 miles on it when purchased new…
…….or…………
… Purchased new and now has 58,000 miles?
How many miles on this Voyager?
Are you going back to the same service facility each time brake pads are recommended for replacement?
CSA
Everybody I’ve known to own these minivans complained about the short brake life.
The problem is the brakes are too small for the weight of the van.
Tester
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Brake wear is so different, depending on how you use the vehicle. What you describe sounds pretty extreme, but if you live in a place like San Francisco, shuttle around 3 or 4 kids, including one who is a teenager with a license, and often carry lots of stuff in addition to your family, it could happen. Also, the way the car is driven is a big factor, and we just can’t know that. People use their brakes in so many different ways, and some wear them out fast.
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I have owned a Dodge Caravan for over 2 decades. I have replaced front brake pads only once. I will say that I recall the brake pads having the identical part number to pads I’ve purchased for, I believe, a Dodge Intrepid that I owned.
That said, that would support the notion that the pads are too small for the mini-van as it is a heavier vehicle. What it won’t support is the fact that I have not had unusual frequency of replacement. To this day I have no complaints about the longevity of the pads I installed years ago and it stops very well, too.
We don’t know why the pads on Graeme Hopkin’s van keep getting replaced.
Are they worn out?
Are they replaced with inferior pads?
Are rotors rusted from sitting?
Does the van pull a trailer or haul loads?
Are the pads worn out?
Do the calipers function properly?
Is the van driven in heavy traffic?
Does the owner “ride” the brake pedal?
Are the pads replaced as a profit enhancement?
Etcetera?
Wentwest makes a good point about differences in brake wear factors. My rural mail carrier always carried a set of brake pads on his mail route, along with the mail, and would replace them roadside as needed.
CSA
But less than (in OPs case) 10,000 miles average for replacement?
Tester
With my old 05 Town & Country, when I got brakes from Autozone that were equivalent of OEM they didn’t last as long as when I got when I got the Replacement OEM Pads.
Wow! This is all new to me. Reading through comments on the link provided by tester, many people had wear problems, but some didn’t (Mind you, this was a site for people WITH brake complaints.) Some suggestions hinted at rotors getting hot, alternately, and a mention of a TRAC system was made.
My Caravan has ABS, but no traction control feature. I have over 110,000 miles total on the original pads plus whatever’s gone on the only replacement set. It’s so long ago, I can’t remember if I replaced the front rotors or not. I’ve got drums in the back still on original shoes and drums.
I have to say, it’s puzzling. I have no brake complaints of any kind. They’ve always worked very well.
As a long time owner/operator/mechanic/maintainer, I have no idea what’s at play here. This vehicle is a daily driver here in Florida, now. Holds lots of people, bicycles, beach chairs, and golf clubs!
CSA
I don’t know where the OP lives, but it may have a lot to do with salt, I had two Chrysler minivans. a 92 Plymouth Voyager and a 2003 Chrysler Town and Country. None of our cars around here get a lot of miles on brakes, my average is probably 20,000 miles. Having said that, the Voyager was seriously underbraked which I discovered on an 8600 mile trip out west. We had two people and a dog and camping gear and suitcases but both rear seats were left home. The first mountains we came to (the Buckhorns) I had to use an escape road. Fortunately that van had the old three speed torqueflight so I just used the transmission to descend hills after that. The brakes on the Town and country were significantly larger and it had rear disc beside .
We had one, the rotors needed to bereplaced due to severe pitting. Perhaps you need new rotors.
A brake inspection by a good shop makes sense, might find something wrong; but I expect this is just what you get w/this vehicle, and the manner in which it is driven. If you want to try something yourself
- do either of the front wheels feel much hotter than the rear wheels after a drive?
- are you sure the rear brakes are engaging? do a fast stop at low speed on gravel road, then get out & look at the marks left in the gravel.
If that’s all ok, you can probably squeeze some more miles out of a set of pads by changing your driving style to minimize the needed braking force
- when you see the stop light ahead is red, immediately let off the accelerator and coast to a stop at the light
- whenever possible and safe to do, gradually slow down vs rapid stops
- avoid swerving in and out of traffic lanes the best you can, as this often requires rapid braking
If however you don’t want to do that, no worries, this sort of brake work doesn’t bust the bank account, brakes are designed to be easy to replace the components. It’s just a minor annoyance of an vehicle you otherwise like.
Drive-by poster?
Once again, I’m afraid, we are speculating based on a 1 sentence description of a complaint. There are so many variables. Without additional input from Graeme Hopkins then we are only guessing, really.
I believe I’ve asked almost a dozen questions to help identify the culprit and allow for meaningful advice, but have no answers, so far.
Rapid brake wear does appear to be an issue on some of these vehicles, but 10,000 miles on pads???
Please! A fully loaded, fuel, passengers, luggage, Boeing 747 probably gets more miles than that out of pads used only during landings and taxiing.
Remember, I actually drive a Dodge Caravan with smallish brake pads, daily.
Something is at play here besides the pads being too small, in my honest amateur opinion. Perhaps I’ll receive some answers to some of the questions of I’ve floated and we’ll be able to help. A conversation needs to have 2 parties involved.
Graeme! Are you still there? Come back!
CSA
Hi it’s Graeme. The car has cover 58000 miles from new. The car was purchased from Arnold Clark. 3 months after I got it the discs at the front fell apart with rust. The car is not used in heavy traffic. And it doesn’t have a trailer. The discs are actually worn out when are replaced. The last set was replaced in October. The garage I used only uses auto parts. This time they have only covered 3500 miles and they are worn already. The pistons have been checked and are working perfectly and I have to get car fixed tomorrow. Thanks for your advice. The car is also bothered with electrical problems. I can’t use the rear doors electronically because it’s draining battery. I have spoken to Arnold Clark and Chrysler uk and none of them want to know. I paid 30000 cash when I got it for my retirement.
Are the brake pads worn down to minimum thickness or are you having the brakes replaced because of brake noise?
It’s hitting metal.
time to find a better mechanic…
Do you brake with your right foot or your left foot?
Do you do any towing with this vehicle?
I have owned 4 Mopar minivans and never had brake wear like this. As @Whitey asked, are you braking with your left foot? That can lead to having your foot lightly on the brake as you drive, which will wear out the brakes, pronto.