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Vans & Minivans Chrysler Town & Country/Dodge Grand Caravan 2008 Chrysler T&C & Dodge Caravan brake life expectancy!
83 messages, Last post on Nov 19, 2009 at 11:16 PM
You are in the Chrysler Town & Country/Dodge Grand Caravan Forum. Your Host is Karens
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Well, I don't know whether I should be glad or disappointed we're not the only ones experiencing brake issues with our '08 DGC. The dealer replaced all the pads and rotors less than a year ago due to excessive run-out (Warping), which they did under warranty right around 12k miles. They, too, tried to blame the problems on my wife's braking habits. She doesn't brake hard or late, doesn't drive through puddles, doesn't drive in hilly terrain where the brakes can overheat. Just your standard suburban driving. So now, 5k miles later (17k on the van), it's back at the dealership again to have them check the run-out. Yes, Chrysler only covers the *original* brakes for 12/12k, but if they replace the parts then the parts are covered by their own 12/12k warranty. Don't let the dealer try to pull a fast one on you if your brakes have already been replaced within the past year and within 12k miles! Also, don't let them screw you over by turning the rotors. That is not a fix and will contribute to more warping now that the material thickness isn't consistent, which means heating and cooling at different rates and this will cause warping. The only reason they turn the rotors is to prevent fixing them under warranty, get you out the door, and then get you to pay through the nose for repairs that should have been covered under warranty. Does this make sense? No. They get paid for warranty work, so you'd think they'd be happy to do the work. Problem is, they get paid warranty book time for repairs which is less than customer-pay and brake work is gravy. Anyway, this really is a problem that needs to be addressed. Some of you may be aware of the issues Nissan had with the Titan and Armada when they first came out, what a fiasco THAT was. Tons of vehicles bought back under the lemon law because they couldn't correct the brake issue for good until after the '05 models came out. Dodge could be in the same situation here if they don't correct the issue soon. The brakes are obviously insufficient for the vehicle and overheat way too easily under normal driving.
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Replying to: yahooligan (Mar 18, 2009 3:47 pm) 1. Rotors running hot (say, after a long run down the side of a mountain), then having to stop with your foot on the brake at a stop light at the bottom. This keeps the pads in contact with the hot rotor and encourages pad material transfer to the rotor. 2. Light weight rotors and other brake componets, which are more prone to overheating. 3. Brake pad material. Some types run hotter than others, and other types are more prone to the pad material transfer phenomenon. 4. I have also read where improperly torqued wheel nuts/bolts could exacerbate the problem by allowing the brakes to run hotter than desired. 5. On the other hand, I do not believe that driving through a puddle of water should cause the problem. If it does, the brakes are woefully inadequate to start with and, if the dealer or manufacturer tells you that, maybe it's time to get the NHTSA involved and push for a recall. I would look into a good aftermarket rotor instead of going with what the dealer offers, warranty or not. Also, don't let them screw you over by turning the rotors. That is not a fix and will contribute to more warping now that the material thickness isn't consistent, which means heating and cooling at different rates and this will cause warping. I agree. I would not turn today's rotors. As you said, they are on the light side to start with, and by removing some material you just make them lighter and more prone to overheating. |
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Here's an update some of you might find useful, however I cannot seem to locate any information on it. So basically 7000 miles ago all the pads and rotors were replaced in my wife's '08 DGC and a couple months ago they started warping again. The local Dodge dealer initially said they wouldn't be covered (17k on the van now), but I basically told them warped rotors after 7k miles under normal driving conditions was unacceptable. A couple of days later we get a call back, they spoke to Chrysler corporate who agreed to do a good will repair if we paid $50 and they covered the rest. Anyway, on to the juicy bit. The RO says "Install updated rotors and pads per TSB #05-006-08." I can't find any record of this TSB and didn't see it until the wife got home. I'd like to see the details on this if anyone can find them. For those of you experiencing repeated brake issues, I'd call up your local dealer of choice and ask them about this TSB. |
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In June 2008, I purchased a 2008 Chrysler Town & Country minivan. I and my 2 young children often take driving vacations, and as a result, my van turned over 16,000 miles this month. Let me say first that I have been very happy with the van thus far, and am still pleased with it overall. But I think this brake issue is something that Chrysler needs to address immediately. Two weeks ago, one of my tires was low, so I took the van in to the dealer (my tires are filled with nitrogen). My father is retired and works part-time at the dealership, so they know me there. I brought the van back home, and discovered over the past 2 weeks that the tire had a slow leak, so I took it in today to have it repaired. I was told that yes, there was a nail in the tire and they repaired it. However, they had some distressing news for me... I was informed that I needed new front brakes AND rotors, to the tune of $330. I was shocked. The brake pads were gone and the rotors were scored at only 16,000 miles??? I told them that I was surprised to hear this, because there was no noise, no squeaking, no grinding - no warning whatsoever. And at 16,000 miles?? I would never expect brakes to wear out so quickly. The technician responded that he didn't hear any brake noises either. I was wondering then, what made them check the brakes...? My leaky tire was in the rear, so it wasn't like they found it by accident while changing the tire. They knew they needed to check those front brakes. Sure enough, the technician informed me that they had been having this problem with the brakes on the 2008 minivans with 14-19K miles on them, and that improvements have been made to the new brake pads, so hopefully I would get more mileage out of the new brakes. My brakes were apparently in such bad shape, they didn't let me take the van home. I was pretty angry about the fact that the brakes wore out so quickly, that there was no warning, and that Chrysler knows this is happening. People are apparently being told that it's the way they are driving, or else it's normal wear and tear. But I have a personal connection at the dealership, so I was told the truth about it. I am certainly no expert on vehicles, but it could be a dangerous situation if Chrysler underrated the brakes for its minivans. If I didn't have that leaky tire, and if the technicians didn't take it upon themselves to check the front brakes, then when - and how - would I have discovered that my brakes were worn out??? This is specifically a family vehicle, designed to carry more people!! And why am I having to pay $330 when Chrysler is well aware that this is an existing problem with the vans, and is making changes only to the vans that are brought in?? Is this a recall situation?? I think it at least needs to be addressed before someone with low mileage discovers in traffic with a vanload of children that their brakes are gone. It's most certainly a quality issue, and Chrysler is going to hear about it from me. |
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JUST GOT BENT OVER FOR ANOTHER $200 ON BRAKE PADS AGAIN AFTER ONLY 12K SINCE BRAKE AND ROTOR JOB ON 2008 T & C!!! THIS VAN HAS 32K HIGHWAY MILES ON IT!! I WENT IN FOR AN A/C PROBLEM TO BE FIXED UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY CALL AND SAY THE PADS ARE ABOUT SHOT! THEY ALSO TELL ME NO ONE IN THE AFTERMARKET MAKES PADS SO I HAVE TO TAKE THE FACTORY ONES AGAIN!!!!!!!!! CHRYSLER HAS THE WORST QUALITY OF ANYTHING I HAVE EVER OWNED, I HAVE HAD BETTER CHEVETTES AND CAVALIERS!!!!! CAN ANYONE SAY LEMON LAW?!!
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Replying to: usavet (Apr 23, 2009 6:36 am) 
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Replying to: usavet (Apr 23, 2009 6:36 am) Rock Auto They sell ceramic pads for these vans now, by many different makes.
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Replying to: abutcher (Apr 23, 2009 12:16 pm)
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I have to replace my front brake pads and rotors after only 25K miles. The rotors were heavily grooved. I didn't even hear the warning tab squeal before the rotors were damaged beyond repair. I noticed all of this on a Friday afternoon when I had to travel 150 miles home. I called the dealer and bought the rotor and pads at dealer pricing since the OEM is the only source at this time. I had to do the work myself Saturday morning. I never thought that I would be reparing a new car within a year of buying it . . Shame Shame. My tires have also been wearing down earlier than expected. My Dodge GC has the Yokohama tires. After 33K miles, they are ready for a change. Again, the dealer just has blank stares, and Chrysler customer serivce keeps on telling me how the dealer has "High Tech instrumentation" to check these things. I think I need an accountant to tell me that Chrysler went cheap on the OEM wheel parts . . .But then again, I already know that.
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Replying to: dlbussell (Apr 30, 2009 5:28 am) I called several national chain stores in the Detroit area, many have or can get in 1 day pads and rotors including Pep Boys, Murrays, NAPA, Advance Auto and Autozone. |
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