2001 Suburban - Dealer says New Rear Brakes/Rotors Needed - Not Warrantied

[rhino_llh]

Just dropped off my 2001 Chevy Suburban at the dealer cause the brake pedal felt soft, it has 35,800 miles on it so I thought it would be covered under the 36k/3year warranty.

He called me and said that dirt had built up in the rear brakes and has ruined the rear parking pads and rear brake pads AND the rotors.

He also said it wasn't covered by the warranty because it was caused by the dirt build up, not a defect in manufacturing.

I just bought the suburban 2 months ago, used. I can't believe that dirt build up could totally ruin the rear brakes.

He said to fix it would be $960.00 (parts $742, labor $220). Sounds like a rip off to me.

Anyone have any experience with something like this. When we bought the suburban, the brake pedal felt a little soft, but it seemed to stop OK so I didn't think it was a problem until I drove another suburban and the brake pedal was firm.

How would the bad pads make the pedal soft, that sounds like a function of the brake fluid system, not a function of pads and rotors.

Should I get a second opinion from another dealer, or independent brake shop??

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Rhino.

[DMC12]

Dirt buildup? Have you been off-roading like every day?

Its probably related to the parking brake defect. Oh, and nothing is covered under warranty. Welcome to Chevy ownership my friend

[blueburbboober]

go to youe firendly auto parts store, buy new pads for front and rear. get the discs machined up front, and buy new drums. i dont think itll cost you $700+ in parts, and its really not that hard to do yourself. but if you dont know what your doing, have a mechanic do it for you. NEVER have the dealer service your car if it isnt 100% covererd by your warrenty, they will take you to the cleaners with the price!

-Rob

[Boxchevyondubz]

If you need new rotors, and pads, you should find a parts store, preferrably wholesale, and inquire about what you need. You'd easily be able to get all your equipment for under $200, and thats pushing the line. Dealers are there to woo you on the floor room, then screw you in the shop. The labor is the major cost, far outweighing the actual equipment. This is a do-it-yourself project that you should seriously consider. Brakes aren't difficult to change, if you have the know how. As far as the soft pedal, after you change the brakes, bleed them , and get the pedal to the correct stiffness.

[bowtiebandit]

You2 kill me..
1. 2001 1500 series have 4wheel disc brakes.
2. at 220 dollars in labor that less than 4 hours labor , roughly.
3. Brakes are hardly ever warrantied past 12/12 unless it is a hydraulic problem, it's a wear item not a defect.
4. The rear brakes are a drum and hat design and if mud or dirt get into them and you don't clean them thoroughly this will happen.

I agree that the soft pedal sounds hydraulic but that depends on the exact cause. If it a steady non pulsating pedal that slowly goes to the floor I would say yes. If it is a pulsating pedal when applied you have warped or rotors with to much thickness variation.

[Jas. Hoppa]

Originally Posted by DMC12

Dirt buildup? Have you been off-roading like every day?

Its probably related to the parking brake defect. Oh, and nothing is covered under warranty. Welcome to Chevy ownership my friend

Howdy,

Please tell me more about the "parking brake defect".

Thank-you,
Jas. Hoppa

[akfireman]

bowtiebandit,

so what do you think the problem would be if the brakes are done and the pedal still goes to the floor, I have a 98 k2500 4x4 and the pedal goes to the floor, i replaced the front pads, the rear shoes were good, pedal still goes to floor.

I measured the pedal travel and like the manufacturers directions say with engine off and vacuum booster bled i get 3 3/4 " pedal travel, which is within limits. but with the engine running pedal goes to the floor with a measure of 7 inches of travel. any Ideas?

[blueburbboober]

akfireman, try bleeding the brake lines, sounds like you have too much air in them, and its trying to compress air instead of fluid. make sure you have enough fluid as well

-rob

[dhiggins]

Is it also possible that the booster could be bad?? david