Help! Brake problem!

3 years ago I had my front calipers, rotors and pads and the back rotors and pads replaced. I took the car back to the place that did the work because the brakes were grinding and they are saying that all need to be replaced again. This car has barely been driven, less than 6,000 miles in three years. They said the parts went bad because the car wasn't driven regulary. I have another car that isn't driven regulary either and have never had a problem with the brakes. Does anyone know if this is true. I just think $900 every 3 years is crazy. Is it possible that they somehow installed them wrong causing them to go bad so fast. If so how can I prove it? Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

It's common for brake friction material to break down with age, causing rapid wear. That being said, however, 3 years seems a short time for that to happen. In my opinion, you were sold a very low quality pad. Not to mention $900 seems a bit steep. Even if you went to a Pontiac dealer and specified all new GM parts, you'd still only pay about $600-$700 - 2 loaded front calipers at $120 each, 2 front rotors at $75 each, 2 rear rotors at $60 each, one set rear pads at $45, and about 2- 3 hours labor at $60/hour (these prices are rough guesstimates and aren't 100% accurate, based on 2002 prices) It seems like you got ripped off, but there's not much you can do about it without spending lots of time and money in small claims court.

Ragtop is right.
if this is a "national" service place, talk to a general mgr. and request that a "prorate" be given for the low miles on the actual system.
some original brakes can last over ten years with little or no service, with the limited activity you utilize this vehicle, it should even be more.
if it is a local shop, you can still talk to a manager; however, you cannot threaten to take it higher, with the exception of filing a claim with small claims courts AND the better business (bbb.org). if you take it to another (if your other shop will not warranty this work for low miles (and MOST brake components from shops and auto parts stores have lifetime warranties)), insure that they document EVERYTHING in an attempt to better your claim.
if they did use a cheaper pad, and one without a brake sensor (the "squeel" maker, in order to save rotors), and the rotors are unmachineable, you might have a safety/negligence issue to take to the BBB and court, and a mgr, or higher up might cave, and reimburse, or give you an allowance for a portion of labor free, but still buy parts, or vice versa.
if you still have no recourse, find someone reputable (local or national) shop; talk to friends, etc. and see if you only need to replace the pads;
this would only cost $20-40 for parts, and 1-2hours labor (sometimes in the known in the industry as a "pad slap").

now, if this place changed the components without forseeing that maybe your power brake booster was bad, then ALL your components could have suffered and be bad again. this is hard to say, without knowing mileage, your driving habits, what they diagnosed BEFORE selling you the brake job, etc. but this is worst case scenario, as usually (if they did actually install new calipers) calipers that are that new, and low miles do not go bad. you may just have air built in the lines, and are prematurely wearing certain ones...


this link is another AFer who has documented the sad and very true form of the auto industry.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=259650

very informative, but disturbing.
I have also worked (past tense) at GM dealerships and have seen this; but it can occur at even the little oil change/lube stops and brake places, so be wary, and knowledgable.

hope this helps,
chris
nrt racing