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Rear Brakes - 2011 Grand Caravan

33K views 35 replies 15 participants last post by  ted928 
#1 ·
How many of you have submitted your expenses to Chrysler for reimbursement?

Our van is less than 2 years old, about 40,000km and the rear brakes are done.

Was hoping that we had gotten the "fixed" rear brakes, considering our June 2011 build date.
 
#2 ·
Sorry, can't help you, but am interested in the outcome.

I had both rear calipers/pads/rotors replaced on my '08 T&C LX 3.3L. It was a while back, maybe in 2010, and at low mileage. "Not covered by warranty" and over $700 as I recall. Now the van is sometimes whistling from the rear again, just like the last brake defect. It sounds like the hub bearing is gone, and maybe it is this time, but it is deceptive because it turned out to be the brakes. I left it alone for a while the first time, waiting for it to be repeatable so the dealer could hear it. Last summer I told the dealer the van is whistling from the rear again and they checked the rear brakes and said they were ok.

I wonder if the replacement rear brakes have the same defect as the originals :(
 
#5 ·
The fronts have an "estimated" 50% left. It was around 3 years and 50,000km when we had to do front brakes on our last van, so I don't have a problem with them. They are a wear item unfortunately.

The issue here is that these vans seem to be rear-biased for braking, so the rear brakes do most of the braking. However, there is obviously something wrong as they are willing to replace the calipers under warranty on the rear...
 
#6 ·
2011 rear brakes binded at 40,000 KM

Rear brakes started to grind goind down the back roads last year.
Smoke were comming out of them. Discs turned blue.

Dealer replaced pads and rotors for free.
I asked if it was a caliper problem and asked them to replace those too.
They said no. The explanation I received was unclear.

Should these rear brakes be serviced every year ?

I can't wait for it to happen again.....
 
#7 ·
I got a call back today from a very nice rep.

The rep said that they discussed it with the service manager at my dealer, and we should get close to 10,000km out of the rear brakes still. Apparently the average life for rear brakes is less than 38,000km. But she said to keep them posted.

She did say that a lot of dealers in this area recommend the brake services every 1-1.5 years because of the salt and junk on the roads here.
 
#8 ·
Apparently the average life for rear brakes is less than 38,000km.
I don't think I have ever got less than 100K miles out of rear brakes, be they disk or drum, and that includes my '99 Grand Caravan. The only exception is my '08 T&C, but the caliper stuck, so who knows what the life of non defective rear brakes would have been. 38K km, if true, is a really underspecified design :(
 
#9 ·
Drum brakes should go for a really long time.

38k for brakes is ridiculous IMO, and WAY TOO SHORT

These vans do most of their braking with the rear brakes, so I understand that they will go before the fronts will, but the fronts are at an estimated 40-50% as well. The front brake usage is normal to me (but that is with a front biased braking setup)
 
#20 ·
Just replaced the rear pads on my 2009 at 37,000 miles. Worn completely down.
Fronts were replaced around 25,000 miles.
you need a thin 15mm wrench and a 13mm socket for the slider pin bolts.

The brake manufacturers stated OEM is sem-metallic for the front and ceramic for the rear.
Wagner Thermo-quiets in the front, Raybestos advanced technology in the rear. (Rebates were available at the time)

I used a HF brake piston tool (68972) to rotate the calipers back in. (For the best fit, one of the sides on the tool has 4 pins - I ground 2 of them off)
http://www.harborfreight.com/four-wheel-disc-brake-piston-tool-68972.html

Make sure you replace the abutment clips as well. (some call them anti-rattle clips)
 
#25 ·
It could be any number of reasons:

Rear solid rotor getting too hot and overheating the pad, making it shed more material. Ceramic may help here.
Rear pad material being a different compound from the front, naturally shedding more dust then the compound on the front.
Proportioning valve dragging the pads more than the fronts.
Rear caliper pistons not retracting properly
Etc...
 
#32 ·
I just wanted to update this thread with the outcome.

We started to experience a strong shudder under braking in the front end, so we took it in to get new brakes done.

We had all new pads and rotors put on all 4 corners. The rear pads were gone, the front pads were at about 50%. This was at ~42,000km

Chrysler did help us out with the repairs, and ever since the change, the rear wheels do not get dirty immediately any more.
 
#33 ·
I have 75,000 km on my van . Pads are 50 percent . Just now starting to have problems like my rear drivers side stinking after driving which I assume is a sticking calliper. Maybe you guys are just a wee bit hard on your brakes
 
#35 ·
Ive had this similar problem with my 2012 non HD brakes. Basically the rear pads were shot at 37K kms. Which in my opinion is outrageous. Anyhow got the pads done at the dealer, voice my complaint to the service manager before booking the appointment, and called Chrysler of canada. Their number should be in your manual somewhere.
They gave me a case number, after listening to my problem and promised to contact my dealer on the day i was having the brakes done. Had the brakes done, paid for it and was contacted by chrysler canada a few days later, they asked me to fax them a copy of the invoice. A few more days later, i was told that they can reimburse me for the brake pads, but not the labour. This was under good faith as my car was out of warranty, blah blah. It was also a one time deal. In the end, i took the offer, it was better then nothing, but I'm not happy having to replace the rear pads every 37K kms, and the fronts every 60K kms. Add in the fact that the rotors and callipers are low grade, and may need replacing every other pad change, and things can get very expensive fast.
Hope this info helps out anyone who is in need.
 
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