How long should a brake job last on a commuter car, 12 miles to work on a 45 mph road? I just dumped $430 on a brake job last Feb ($90 pads, $125 rotors, $80 labor). 14K mile later, the fronts are gone again. Did bring it in to the asme shop a few months ago due to squealing. Said they are fine - metal pads will squeal. 40% pad life left.

 

A few days ago the griding started.

 

Today is another $500. Newly found shop states the calipers were not releasing and that caused the premature failure. Ultra reliable local shop this time and I trust thair judgment. Saved me > $1000 on my Caravan. Other (crap) shop wanted to do struts and strut bearings. One Swab bar link and bushings later - $200.

Here's what you should do. Instead of paying a shop to do your brakes, do your own. Get a set of lifetime warranty pads from a place like Pep Boys and do the job yourself. Brakes on these cars are very easy to replace. It would save you tons and tons of money if you did it that way as opposed to dropping $500 everytime you need them done.

I had sticking calipers on an Escort before. Did the place you had the brakes done at rebuild/service the calipers? Sometimes if you just squeeze the pistons back in and slap in new pads, there's a little corrosion/dirt/gunk/whatever on the piston, it can damage the seal/and or hang up on the seal and stick. I had that happen at Monroe before and I complained hard and got a full refund. Gas mileage also suffers obviously when calipers are hanging up.

 

A little grinding/squealing in the brakes when stopping, esp. if the car sat for a couple days when it's wet out probably isn't a big deal.

I tend to eat a set of front pads and discs within 20 k miles - but I do like to use my car on tracks every now and then...