Major Brake Problems, i need advise

Ok here we go i have a 2004 chrysler pacifica and it has about 26,000 miles on it. the beging of this month i took it to the dealer because of the breaks were making a squeeling sound like i need new brakes. i thought it was too soon to get new brakes and had them check to see if their was a problem with them. well they end up telling me i need new brakes (crap). well they were going to charge me around $400 to get the rotters resurfaced and new brakes. well i went some where else. at a respectale brake place and got them done for cheaper.

The two front wheels are the ones i did. and the problem started about a week later where it started to make a grinding noise on both of them, only when i press the brakes lightly to make a stop. so i took them back and told them what the proablem was and they fixed it. a week goes bye again same thing. i took it back they fixed it saposably. another week goes bye. it happens again. same dam grinding noise when i am about to make a complete stop. so now I am geting pist off. so i took it to the dealer told them all the proablems i am having and they told me that the olny thing they can find is that they did a real crappy job on cutting the rotters. Fine i said i will complain to the people who did my rotters and brakes. this is the third time i took the car back and i told them i am really pist. the car was fine when i got the car, did not make this sound and after coming here i am now hearing this grinding noise.

Well the guy told me their is a 2000 mile breaking period. and i said bull shit i came three times and i have not been breaking hard or crazy, so you are doing something wrong. at the end he tells me that, everytime i took my car back which was 3 times he resurfaced the rotters. i was mad and i said their should be no reason to do that. He tells me that the grinding noise is normal

i know this is long i am almost done.

He ended up geting me brand new rotters and brakes for free. YES thats what i wanted to hear. Well Guess what a week later after he installed the new brakes and rotters the same shit is happening all over again. now i am going back to the main dealer and having them check everything to make sure that its not anything else.

Please respond someone.

thanks for reading

Daniel

Try a different set of pads. I would guess they put on lifetime pads. This is alright but the longer the life of the pads the harder they are and the more they tend to make noise when you hit the brakes. Try a set of OEM pads or a set of raybestos or performance friction carbon metallics. I will bet that the noise goes away and does not return. Also make sure to lubricate the bolts and slides on the brakes with brake grease. They could be binding slightly.

I also have one question, I thought the Pacifica was warranted for 3years or 36K miles all except the brake pads? The dealer should have done everything for free with the exception of the cost for the brake pads! And the last time I checked it only cost about $12 per rotor to turn them down at any machine shop. Let's add this up, new pads $60, machine rotors $24, one hour labor $70 total cost $154. Getting screwed by the dealer $400!

"well i went some where else. at a respectale brake place and got them done for cheaper."

sorry ----I am not trying to slam or Flame you here personally----

If your rotors were tore up, why did you have them turned? My dealer told me, "They're so cheap, we just replace them, we don't resurface them anymore, no one should"

Second,
If you don't use premium brake pads, regular metallic pads will chew up rotors fast. A consideration is to use the factory OEM pads, or ceramic pads (available, and better).

Last:
Your manual states that the brakes need to be inspected for wear at the 24,000 service interval. If you had done that, you might have put on new Chrysler pads then for $60, and not tore up your rotors?

If you take a Pacifica to places like "mindyourkeys", "mydAss" or "Merchance" you get what you paid for, shitty brakes.
in the long run, they are NOT cheap, as you have to go back 4 or 5 times. Those brakes MAY ACTUALLY NOT MEET OEM SPECS, and void your Warranty! Do you have anything that says they do meet spec?!

There is nothing special or mysterious about a Pacifica, the brakes are as easy to do yourself as any car, even the rear discs in an AWD Pacifica. So if your handy, don't be afraid, take a wrench to it... and NO... doing your own Brakes won't void your Chrysler warranty, as long as the replacement parts meet or exceed OEM specifications.

Tom

Hi

New to Pacifica, and have not worked brakes yet. But, on my Windstar van and Explorer I have been very pleased with ceramic pads. I think Raybestos indicated they recommended them especially for heavier vehicles. They also produce less dust on the rims. I will definitely go ceramic when it is time.

good luck,

I had a similar problem with a grinding right front brake. The grinding occurred only when I hit the brakes. It was like a ticking and it eventually has gotten better. I think my problem was related to either the caliper hitting the inside of the wheel or caliper contacting the rotor. So, as the lining wears, the contact goes away. Again, this is not proven, just my hunch. Good luck and let me know if you solve it. I'm planning on new pads soon, so I may be back into the problem.

Thanks,
Jim Texter
texter@texterfamily.com