jscott6

The brake pads on my vette have not been changed in 15+ years but there is still plenty of pad left (4 wheel disk). The mechanic I asked said they are fine because of the amount of pad remaining. I know there are a very wide variety of pads available, but I would replace them with ACDelco professional organics or something similar. Was wondering if those new pads would increase the stopping ability (compared to 15 year old pads) or would I have to go up to a performance (Hawk, etc) pad.

Frankie the Fink

I don't know why you'd touch them if the pads are unglazed, not cracked or squeaking, not soaked in any fluid with plenty of meat on them...

GTOguy

Pads and shoe linings don't go bad with mere age. They need to get heat cracked, glazed, or contaminated to 'go bad'. I'm running the original 34 year old rear brake shoes on my '83 Toyota 4x4 with 275,000 miles on it.....and they have about 40% lining left. Have run 70 year old brake linings on antique cars of mine in the past.....not an issue.

Frankie the Fink

Oh, and give your mechanic a hug, there aren't many that wouldn't talk an owner into a brake job and new pads with the extra juicy "Corvette surcharge" tacked onto the bill..

Sounds like a keeper...

jscott6

Just what I needed to know. Going to leave them on and keep rollin.
Thanks

65GTO

Got that right !!!!.... Just came back from the Toyota dealer to have a recall repair done on my daily driver. Just as I was wrapping up, a woman was with the 'Service Consultant' and he was explaining to her that he had good news.. 'that noise from your rear (she had a RAV 4) is not the differential, just a relatively minor repair of rear brake pads needed'. He then proceeded to continue with the 'good news' that 'if it only needs pads and rotors, the estimate will be $895'. The woman said 'I am so relieved.. thank you so much !'.

I wanted to tell her the only thing you are being 'relieved of' is about $700 dollars.. run for your life (wallet) lady now !!!!!!

GTOguy

The Toyota dealer did an airbag recall on my Tundra this year and keep on soliciting me for $119 oil changes (with FREE tire rotation!), as well as other service work (that I don't need). Amazing what the general public will pay for simple service on newer vehicles. The latest and greatest scam is the fluid flushing campaign.....totally unwarranted and not needed. But a way to generate easy money.

Frankie the Fink

The local Dodge dealer wanted to charge my daughter about $900 for front and rear complete brake service. I did it for about $250...

I have to say my Toyota dealer has some oil change and tire deals cheaper than anywhere else. Bought four tires $100 cheaper than Walmart - I couldn't believe it...

65GTO

Haaaa !!!! I got exactly the same 'push' for getting a $119 oil change (full synthetic was the selling point) while I was there !!!! I told him 'a little steep there yeah... for an oil change ????' and gave him the look that he had 'no sale'. But one does get to sit in those cafe's they had, eating bagels and drinking coffee. That must be where the other $80 comes in

61corv

My 61 is still running the original rear shoes. It is funny that when you work on your own stuff how shocked you are to see what people are paying.

I took my daughters Honda cr-v in to have the A/C compressor replaced, They changed the way they talked to me when they saw my shirt said Aircraft Maintenance on it. "The kid" behind the counter turned pale when I said I have been doing it for 32 years. They changed 3 before they found one that was quiet and operated smoothly. And that was factory parts.

R66

I run brake shoes until they are worn out, cracked, glazed, or other wise not serviceable. Age has nothing to do with it.

Our Subaru dealer tried to tell us the battery went flat in the 14 Outback because we left the rear dome light in the "OFF" position. Corporate Subaru put in a new battery after the second jump and my phone call to the east coast asking for the recall notice on that one.

When my wife bought it, the service manager sold my wife the extended four year warrantee for about $1400 which extends the new car warrantee by only one year. After a little education of the better half, she called and told them where to stick it and got her money back.

We just got a notice that the Consumer Reports best buy for years has a problem with the CVT transmission and the warrantee is now extended to 100,000 miles. The only car I have ever owned that puked a transmission before 100K was a 99 Dodge Durango POS.

I wanted to keep the 07 Impala that she was afraid would break down with slightly under 100,000 miles. The 07 got better mileage, better handling, better ride, better AC, better power, better and better everything. But, it was her car and her call.

SDVette

I had the same decision to make when I pulled my car out of a 35 year storage.
I decided to re-use them as they looked barely used... Although I did replace the master, slave, and all the brake lines..

Still stopping fine after 4 years and ~4K miles!

MikeM

I have a couple of bins on the shelf. One with used midyear Corvette pads and some with drum brake shoes from '60's Chevy II, Camaro, Chevelle, Corvair. All pulled off in the '60's or early '70's.

I'd use any of them on a car if need be.