Dealer says I need to replace brake pads...

Took mine in for routine maintenance today and they called to tell me I'm at 3mm left on my front pads and and they need to be replaced and need to turn the rotors. Only have 35,000 miles. Does that seem normal?

 

So, what did you tell them?

How long your brakes last, depends on YOU. How fast you drive and how hard you brake. Everyone is different. I replaced my pads at about 50k and had my rotors turned.

I hope you told them...NO THANKS!

Dealerships are known for adding services that you don't need. So, yea...you gotta be careful. Your best bet, is to DENY the request until you're able to look at the issue yourself.

I had one dealership tell me my battery needed changing for 3 years.....

 

It really depends on driving style, etc on how much you'll get out of them but I'd question them on it. They should be able to take you into the shop area and show you your pads on your truck to make you feel better.

For reference, I'd call my driving style "average" and I've got about 8mm on my fronts at 45,000 with about 5,000 of that towing my 2,000lb trailer. Rears have maybe 6mm on the shoes.

 

You replaced your rotors and not the pads?

 

I would say my driving style is "average". I don't brake hard, a lot of highway driving so not a ton of stop & go. Don't off-road that much. Only thing I can think of maybe is I have heavier tires than stock. I told the dealer another time and taking it to another place tomorrow for a 2nd opinion.

 

Yeah I'd say it all depends on how you use your brakes. That and check them yourself. I am going on 60K and mine dont need to be changed yet but then again most of my miles are highway miles. A buddy of mine that uses his for daily driving changed his at 60K a few months ago and did it all himself.

 

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Yup same here, drive mostly highway and i have 64k and my brakes still in good shape.

 

Anytime I change my pads, I have the rotors turned.

If the rotors get bad enough to feel it in the steering wheel, its probably beyond turning them. More like replacement.... In my opinion anyway.

 

Pads also bed in better with a freshly machined surface rather than a surface with pre-worn grooves and glazed spots.

I'd get a second opinion OP. Sears told my sister she needed brakes all around when they were practically brand new

 

3mm is less than an 1/8th of an inch. No it is not normal, but it can happen if the operator rides the brakes or is heavy on the peddle when using them or if the vehicle is regularly used to pull or haul heavy loads.

It is easy to check by just removing the wheel and checking. If true Just go and buy a set of pads and change them yourself.

 

Sounds like a cheap upsell. Toyota brakes last longer than that. I don't have a lot of respect for dealers. I use them mainly for recalls.

 

Did my front brakes at 65K on my 07. I am at 84K now and rear brakes still origional and still good.

Benefits of careful planned braking.

Of course in my Miata I just had all brakes resone and brake fluid flush at 29K.

It's all in how you drive.

 

Over 100K miles (167,000 KM) on my front pads, I'll probably be changing them sometime next year. Rear shoes will probably make 200K miles or more.

Something is wrong if your description of your driving style is accurate, either they don't need replacing, or they are dragging for some reason.

 

I agree. Wish I had a good reputable mechanic I could trust, but don't know one yet. Anytime Toyota says I need something, I at least take it to Firestone or similar and get a second opinion.

 

Take a look at the pads. If they are seized in the caliper they are most likely continually making contact with the discs making for premature wear. Also maybe a sticky piston in the caliper will definitely cause premature wear. Do the wheels in the front spin freely or is there some drag? If there is drag, definitely check the calipers

 

3mm from the squealer tab probably. Good that you are or have got a second opinion. Doesn't cost much and never hurts.

Replaced the oem pads at 175K,,same rotors still.

210K on the oem rears and still trucking,,haven't touched them other than to relube the backing plate tabs/sliding pads on the shoes and blow out dust. Self adjuster gets a shot of aerosol white grease on occasion to keep it happy.

If everything else checks out and you are ripping thru pads and warping rotors every 50-60K,,you are braking to hard or to heavy of loads with a hard foot. Should get 100K out of those,,,with ease. These are light little trucks.

Worst I seen was a newer Jeep Cherokee,,that hammered the front pads and rotors in just under 10K,,,yes 10K and they were absolute junk. After the dealer fight that always precludes a lemon lawed vehicle, it was Lemon lawed and bought back,,because it ate another full set super fast.

Stay away from the 2012-2013 V8 Cherokee's,,damn things should have been recalled for that and not the first time I have heard and seen that on a V8 Cherokee.

 

I go through brakes like candy apparently. I had already changed them at 35000 miles. Easy enough to check yourself though, pull a wheel and look.

 

I have a little over 90k on my truck now. A couple of months ago, my brake and alignment guy inspected all four, said I have about 50% left on the front and the rears are barely worn. I drive fairly hard.

I can't imagine how hard I would have to beat my truck to wear the brakes out six times faster. Do you tow large trailers often?

 

You're driving a standard right??

 

How would that make any difference?

I have driven standards and autos and have always gotten 100K miles minimum out of a set of OEM Pads.