My Intrepid's brakes have been much the same, although with heavy stop-and-go driving, I'm lucky if a set of pads lasts 20,000 miles.
Most, if not all, front wheel drive cars seem to have problems with brake rotor warpage. In a lot of cases it's because the rotors have been downsized since the '70s to save weight to help achieve EPA-mandated fuel economy targets. There are also some people who hold that lug nut torque is critical on newer, lighter rotors; if you don't put the wheels on and use a torque wrench to put the lugs on to exactly the manufacturer-specified tightness, you stand a good chance of premature warpage. I don't know how true that is. Sometimes quickie brake job places, or the do-it-yourselfer neglect to lubricate the brake caliper slides with the proper grease. This causes the caliper to apply more pressure than it should to the brake rotor while driving, creating excess heat and wear and warpage. Also, sometimes defective calipers get overlooked, causing the same issue. Yet another thing is the source of the brake rotors themselves. Chinese-made rotors are notorious for warping quickly. Turning these on a lathe afterward usually only produces short-lived relief. American/Canadian made rotors (Raybestos, Wagner) are of superior quality, but it comes at a much higher price. Ditto for the pads. I doubt the ceramic pads will help much, but at least you won't have the problems with brake rotor dust. Have the brakes competently inspected once every 10,000 miles is the best advice I can offer, and replace them when the pads are at less than 50% wear remaining. If the rotors aren't warped at the time the pads are replaced, have them measured to ensure they're still a safe thickness, and then consider *not* changing them; you might have a good set. I would also caution against having them turned on a lathe unless you seek out somebody who really, truly knows what they're doing. I've done this work in years past, and doing it right requires a lot of attention to detail and can be tricky. Have the surfaces scuffed with sandpaper to help the new pads seat properly, and see how it goes. There's no harm done in changing the rotors later (and keeping the same pads) if they start to warp. --Geoff On 12/5/05, Pamela <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Has any one else had trouble with their brakes??? > I have a 02 SE Intrepid. > I have 47500 miles on it and just had to replace all 4 rotors and discs. > I have had trouble with my brakes from the get go. > I had my rotors turned under 1200 and right before the 1200 mark my now x > told me to get the car in before the brake warranty was up because it was > acting up again....and this time had the front rotors replaced. > The car had been doing the shaky thing upon braking so I took it to have it > checked last week. I was shocked. And....My x rotated my tires at 2100 and > noted that the back rotors both seemed warped as they had a high spot on each. > > I am very upset over this. I was told Dodge has bad brakes and to get the > Mopar parts off. > So I went with Bendix brakes...I even have ceramic brakes pads if that will > help. > > would love to hear you smart Molar guys intake on this!!! > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > Web: <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dodge_intrepid> > Subscribe: <mailto://[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Unsubscribe: <mailto://[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Moderator: <mailto://[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > -- --Geoff MML Moderator/Admin/Occasional SAA/Keeper of the MML Map '92 Acclaim; '98 Intrepid; '03 Grand Caravan Read about AND join the MML at: http://www.moparmailinglist.com Skype: ggariepy68 ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/46t0lB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Web: <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dodge_intrepid> Subscribe: <mailto://[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Unsubscribe: <mailto://[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Moderator: <mailto://[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dodge_intrepid/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
