2002 Grand Caravan Sport Brake Question...

[ladytex70]

Good evening..I have a buddy who has an '02 Grand Caravan Sport and she has run into an interesting issue with her brakes.

She took it in to have the front brakes done and also have the back drums inspected. The mechanic asked her if she was from the North and when she told him yes, he proceeded to tell her he could tell because the rear brake rotor drums were rusted together and that in order make this repair, he would have to bust the drums apart along with brake lines. According to the mechanic, this was caused by the ice melting "salt" that is used on the highways in New Hampshire, where my buddy is from. Does this sound possible?

Any info or advice is greatly appreciated..thanks

[RIP]

It sounds like he can't do a brake inspection because the drums have rusted to the wheel hubs and won't come loose. It makes sense that if you're up north this could be a more common problem. Salt and moisure combine into a very corrosive mixture.

I live on the edge of a desert and just finished a brake job on my rear brakes. Took me two days to get one drum off because it too was rusted to the hub. I used half a can of penetrating fluid and a propane torch. Finally came loose after the 500th hammer blow.

If all you want to know is the pad thickness, there are two removable rubber plugs you can remove to check this. Otherwise, I would take it somewhere else where they may have the patience to take the time to get the drums off in one piece. Or have them remove the hub and drum as an assembly.

[mwrobe1]

Originally Posted by ladytex70

...he would have to bust the drums apart along with brake lines.

Along with the brake lines????
No...that does not sound possible. I'd advise your friend to get a second opinion. I live in Chicago...we get plenty of salt on our roads during the winter time...and I was able to remove my rear brake drums with time, WD-40 and a rubber mallet for the purpose of adjusting my rear brakes.