Front Brakes Am I getting Ripped Off Please Help?

(2010-12-21 03:10:05) 1. Drew R Says: My Wife bought a New Honda Civic last year and it has 16000 thousand miles on it. This past week we heard a terrible squealing noise coming from the car. The noise was intermitent and did not happen when she was breaking. We dropped the Car off at the dealership and they said she needed new front breaks. Since the car still has relatively low miles and she drives very passively we do not understand why she would need new breaks. When I asked if this was still under Warranty I was told it was not because this is considered a wear and tear item.

Please anyone help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Andrew2. JaneM Says: you know andrew, 16000 miles on a set of any brakes is low even on a big rig. i would take the car to a brake shop and get it checked. its usually free and insist on seeing the problem while the vehicle is torn down. this is usually acceptable in any shop. they can actually point out the problem and show you the worn parts. there could just be a rock jammed in the pads that will cause a noise. if everything is ok, give the guys a 20 for the trouble and get on down the road.3. Jonathan S Says: Well, you cannot expect brakes to last forever, and no they are not typically covered under any warranty because they are a wear item, they are designed to wear, that's just how they work. Now, you could ask if they would show you the brake pads and explain to you what happened that caused it. This might help you get a better understanding of what happened and what to expect in future.

Building good open lines of communication and trust with the people who service your vehicle is an absolute necessity. The more they can inform you about, the less you will question if a repair is needed. People tend to be more understanding if they are showed the problem and have it explained to them in terms they understand.

Good Luck4. cory l Says: sounds about right, especially with city driving or quick trips on the highway (1-3 exits) that can put a lot of wear on your brakes 16,000 miles does seem light but if they we're squealing they were squealing and they need to be replaced, ask to see the brake pads if you don't believe you ran through those brake pads in that amount of time.5. bmwrider001 Says: the front brakes do 70% of the stopping in your vehicle

if most of the miles are from city driving, ask to see the brake pads, they are most likely worn out

warranty coverage is 12months/12,000 miles on brakes6. Mark Says: it could very well be the brakes, the noise you probably heard was the wear sensors on the brakes. Your best bet would be to check them yourself and see if there is still meat on them.7. Levi Says: People just won't learn, cheap stinking imports use cheap stinking parts.

It's possible it is the brake pads, it's too hard to say without hearing the car in person.

If the problem didn't seem related to stopping it could be a serpentine belt, or maybe a bearing is going bad in one of your pulleys. My gut says it is brakes related though. Even if the sound happens while driving and not only during braking, it still could be a sticking caliper, or a misaligned pad, or something of that nature. A reputable mechanic will show you what needs replaced and explain it. If you don't trust them there is no law against second opinions, take it to a different shop if you feel it is necessary.

Next time buy an American car, instead of one manufactured by the same folks who attacked Pearl Harbor so many years ago and who slaughtered many of our armed forces members throughout the Pacific islands. Not only will you have a higher quality vehicle, but you will be helping the few American jobs left inside our borders.8. Thomas E Says: You say "passive driver" - that really doesn't matter much to brake wear. If her driving is short city trips to work - to the store - to kids soccer practice - she will wear brakes out faster than a salesman that gets on the freeway and drives 50 miles and then applies his brakes once. The squeak probably is the wear sensor. It will contact when you have about 10% of brake pad left. And it will probably be intermittent at first. And then if the squeaking STOPS it probably means the squeaker spring has BROKEN OFF. And now you need to get new pads soon. If the pads wear down to the steel backing plate - they will scar and ruin the discs. Replace pads before they get that far. Many shops will try to sell you discs - if they are not scarred and gouged - you shouldn't need them. They will also try to sell machining or resurfacing. If the brakes are not vibrating - you should NOT need resurfacing. Just pads only. Resurfacing cuts away part of the disc surface and after about 2 resurfacings the discs are so thin that you NEED new discs - more profit for the dealers. Tag: Front Brakes Am I getting Ripped Off Please Help?