Brakes

[Lucky161]

I have a 2004 Kia Optima that I bought new in 2004. I have 93K on it and it's never had a single repair. I did have the timing belt changed at 90K (recommended at 105K) just to be on the safe side since the V6 is an interference engine. Other than that, just oil changes every 5K and washing at least every two weeks.
The other day I realized that I had never heard the brake warning indicator and with that many miles I was concerned that perhaps I had missed it or for some reason it just hadn't worked. So I took it to the shop this morning and almost said replace the brakes on all 4 wheels, but at the last minute decided to just have them inspected. They were only half used up. I've never had brakes last this long before, even with disc brakes. I don't drive nearly as hard as I used to, but still this was a very pleasant surprise.

Just an FYI on Kia/Hyundais. Mine is a V6 and I wanted that. It turns out that the wheels on the V6 look much better in my opinion than the aluminum wheels on the 4 cyl, and it does have enough power that I have to be careful on take off not to spin the tires. But my dad, my brother and his wife all have Sonatas with the 4 cyl that is NOT an interference engine and they all have decent power. I suggest driving both before just writing off the 4 as underpowered.

[9rows]

currently 138,552 miles on the original brakes on my car.

2003 mercury marauder.

[step33T]

My Silverado has 125k miles and that includes a bunch of runs in to the mountains here in Colorado.

I'm still on the original front brakes. They replaced the rears rotors around 80k because of rust/corrosion, but the pads were fine (replaced anyway with the new rotors).

I once asked my guy to replace the front brakes and he just said no - stupid to replace something that isn't close to worn out.

And like I said, the back brakes weren't hurt at all except for that corrosion coming inside out on the rotors or they would still be on the truck.

Had an S-10 a decade ago, and that thing went through brakes all the time (and rear U-joints). Me thinks the driver had something to do with that.

[Marc P. Gregoire]

'99 Malibu went 40,000 miles on the OEM front brakes, now at about 48,000 on the second set, almost due to be changed. OEM rear shoes still.

[MoparsRule]

Changed the brakes on the wifes' 2002 Toyota Highlander over the weekend - front brakes made it 84K, which I thought rather well considering the driver.

(did I say that out loud? )

[Lucky161]

Changed the brakes on the wifes' 2002 Toyota Highlander over the weekend - front brakes made it 84K, which I thought rather well considering the driver.

(did I say that out loud? )

No and if she asks us we'll tell her you didn't say it.

I guess brakes fall under the "I don't wish too much for the old days."

[MoparsRule]

Thank you.

[DavidM]

I had the brakes and rotors replaced on my Old Alero at 18k, luckly there was a factory recall. Was back at the dealer at 30K with Brake issues again was told that I needed all 4 rotors replaced again because they again warped. Told them to stick it and went to a local Goodyear tire store who only had to replace the front pads and turn the front rotors. That at least got me to 48K. DC beltway driving does take it toll, but that along with the other issues I had with that car did it for me and GM cars!

[lutesk]

currently 138,552 miles on the original brakes on my car.

2003 mercury marauder.

Wow, and I thought I did good getting 138,551 on my car.

Not really, but pretty close to what you got.

1998 Audi A4.

In my opinion a stick shift makes a big difference.

[RS2]

I have a Audi 80 Avant with 80,000 miles and usually must change the rotors yearly. I also have a Skoda Octavia with 60,000 miles and have changed the rotors 4 times. The pads are never worn out but get changed anyways.

Why so often? The Audi in the summer is on the Nürburgring at least once a month and the Octavia is the daily driver that is 10 times per week on the Autobahn.

Both cars have Brembo front brakes and I bought 10 rotors for the Octavia for €400. The pads are the metal kind which enables me to make ABS induced stops from 130mph with the ABS pulsating the entire time with no problem. Which gives a huge advantage in safety. This may sound a bit extreme but when you drive basically on a freeway two times a day at up to 120mph, at least once a week I have to stand on the brakes for one reason or another.

[rrrr]

You drive a Skoda at 130 MPH? Holy crap! This has to be a different car than what I used to see Premier Kruschev wheeling around.....

[Marc P. Gregoire]

My brakes were starting to pulse and worry me so one day I got out on a lightly trafficked highway and after warming up the brakes driving casually went 0-60-10-70-15-80-20... for a couple of miles, drove for about ten minutes to cool the brakes off and the pulse went away now that they are good and bedded in.

I need to change my brake fluid though, I start getting pedal fade when I really have to lean on them at low speed like in city traffic through river valleys.

[RS2]

This Octavia RS has a listed top speed of 150mph. But mine is a diesel so it is slower.

[rrrr]

Well there ya go. I was thinking of this kind of Skoda:

[Lucky161]

Well there ya go. I was thinking of this kind of Skoda:

Is that the 2010 Dallara?