Need new front brakes at 38,000 miles
 

Has anyone else had a problem with front rotors rusting and causing the brake pads to wear prematurely? That's what happened to me. The front rotors rusted so badly that they became pitted and caused premature wear on the brake pads. I had to have completely news rotors and pads installed in the front and had to have the rear rotors turned to remove a lighter layer of rust. The rear pads were not yet worn enough to require replacement.

The cost - $618! Needless to say, I'm not very happy with my Ford Hybrid at this point in time.

Re: Need new front brakes at 38,000 miles
 

It's been suggested on here that you can put your vehicle in neutral and brake to a stop periodically to remove rust from the rotors. The FEH wont let you do stuff like step on the brake and gas pedal at the same time to get the rotors and pads hot.
I do the brake test about once a week and more often if it gets wet. 55,000 miles and the original discs and pads are still good.

Re: Need new front brakes at 38,000 miles
 

I second D-mac's suggestion. I do that same and still have the origional pads and rotors with very little wear and 54,511 miles on it.

Also, I do the same with my Emergency brake. I speed up to 20 MPH and then apply the E-Brake lightly until I come to a complete stop. I apply the foot brake, shift in to park, release the foot brake and then release the E-Brake. I do this maybe once a month. On my '07 MMH, it has two rear brakes, the rear disc brakes and drum in rotor brakes for the E-Brake.

Re: Need new front brakes at 38,000 miles
 

Thanks for the tips! Sure wish I had read about doing that earlier. I've always been really easy on the brakes - - and in this case doing that probably actually made the situation worse by never cleaning off the rust - - so it just kept building up.

Re: Need new front brakes at 38,000 miles
 

Sounds more like you got had by a service manager. Firestone or Goodyear..??

Light rusting of the braking surface area is SOP for brake rotors and heavy rusting for the other surfaces pretty much the same.

Rusting/pitted enough to wear brake pads out prematurely......NOT.

Re: Need new front brakes at 38,000 miles
 

Sounds more like you got had by a service manager. Firestone or Goodyear..??

Light rusting of the braking surface area is SOP for brake rotors and heavy rusting for the other surfaces pretty much the same.

Rusting/pitted enough to wear brake pads out prematurely......NOT.

Re: Need new front brakes at 38,000 miles
 

I use my e-brake to get rid of the grab caused by wet brakes when it rains, so mine get used at least once a month.

Re: Need new front brakes at 38,000 miles
 

I had the work done by a supposedly reputable Ford dealer.

Re: Need new front brakes at 38,000 miles
 

Hmmm..

Grab.....Wet brakes....GRAB....!!

It is my lifelong experience that if my brakes are wet I have very little braking at all, let alone "grab". BMW has new system wherein if the rain detecting wipers activate they automatic apply a light level of braking to keep the rotors dry just in case.

Re: Need new front brakes at 38,000 miles
 

I suggest never having work done there ever again.