Front Brake Pads After Only 25K ?

Hello,

Have a 2009 Buick LaCrosse.

Has only 25,000 miles on it.
Sr. citizen now, and just don't use it all that much.

Dealership says front brakes are shot, and front pads should be
replaced. Rear are fine.

When queried how this could be with such a low mileage, he asked if I
brake with my left foot.
I do.

But am absolutely convinced that I do not "ride" the brake pedal etc.
Foot is completely off when driving.

So, is it totally unreasonable to require new front brake pads after
only 25, 000 miles ?
(Dealership wants $450 for "generic" brand replacement pads)

Any thoughts would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Bob

Robert11 > wrote in news:935fbe4b-b916-4a32-812f-
:

> Hello,
>
> Have a 2009 Buick LaCrosse.
>
> Has only 25,000 miles on it.
> Sr. citizen now, and just don't use it all that much.
>
> Dealership says front brakes are shot, and front pads should be
> replaced. Rear are fine.
>
> When queried how this could be with such a low mileage, he asked if I
> brake with my left foot.
> I do.
>
> But am absolutely convinced that I do not "ride" the brake pedal etc.
> Foot is completely off when driving.



You may believe so, but you're more than likely applying pressure to the
pedal without knowing it.

I'll bet your Buick uses a front/rear dual-circuit split. In that case, the
fronts apply pressure before the rears. In a diagonal-split system, it's
common with left-foot-brakers for a front, and the opposite rear, to be
worn before the other two.

You can always tell the left-foot brakers: Their brake lights are on all
the time, or are flickering.



>
> So, is it totally unreasonable to require new front brake pads after
> only 25, 000 miles ?



If you left-foot-brake, no.


--
Tegger

"Robert11" > wrote in message
...
> Hello,
>
> Have a 2009 Buick LaCrosse.
>
> Has only 25,000 miles on it.
> Sr. citizen now, and just don't use it all that much.

I know that "riding" the brakes will cause rapid wear, but I also respect
that as a senior citizen, you probably know whether or not this is a habit.

You might want to get a second estimate at a GOOD local independent
shop. There is nothing magic about a dealership, although I know that
many people believe they should get the best service possible there.
It isnt necessarily so, and the prices can be much higher than they need
to be.

On 04/26/2012 04:26 AM, Robert11 wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Have a 2009 Buick LaCrosse.
>
> Has only 25,000 miles on it.
> Sr. citizen now, and just don't use it all that much.
>
> Dealership says front brakes are shot, and front pads should be
> replaced. Rear are fine.
>
> When queried how this could be with such a low mileage, he asked if I
> brake with my left foot.
> I do.
>
> But am absolutely convinced that I do not "ride" the brake pedal etc.
> Foot is completely off when driving.
>
> So, is it totally unreasonable to require new front brake pads after
> only 25, 000 miles ?
> (Dealership wants $450 for "generic" brand replacement pads)
>
> Any thoughts would be most appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Bob

at $450 just for front pads, which takes all of 20 minutes and costs
maybe $50 in parts, the only "riding" that's being done is the dealer on
your wallet.

find a good independent mechanic and get a second opinion. it may be
that calipers are sticking and the brakes are indeed wearing. but you'd
notice the increased gas consumption. more likely, they're just trying
to rip you off. again, independent second opinion.


--
nomina rutrum rutrum

On Apr 26, 7:26*am, Robert11 > wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Have a 2009 Buick LaCrosse.
>
> Has only 25,000 miles on it.
> Sr. citizen now, and just don't use it all that much.
>
> Dealership says front brakes are shot, and front pads should be
> replaced. Rear are fine.
>
> When queried how this could be with such a low mileage, he asked if I
> brake with my left foot.
> I do.
>
> But am absolutely convinced that I do not "ride" the brake pedal etc.
> Foot is completely off when driving.
>
> So, is it totally unreasonable to require new front brake pads after
> only 25, 000 miles ?
> (Dealership wants $450 for "generic" brand replacement pads)
>
> Any thoughts would be most appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Bob

could be your rear brakes aren't adjusted properly and your front
brakes are doing all of the braking.

On Apr 26, 7:26*am, Robert11 > wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Have a 2009 Buick LaCrosse.
>
> Has only 25,000 miles on it.
> Sr. citizen now, and just don't use it all that much.
>
> Dealership says front brakes are shot, and front pads should be
> replaced. Rear are fine.
>
> When queried how this could be with such a low mileage, he asked if I
> brake with my left foot.
> I do.
>
> But am absolutely convinced that I do not "ride" the brake pedal etc.
> Foot is completely off when driving.
>
> So, is it totally unreasonable to require new front brake pads after
> only 25, 000 miles ?
> (Dealership wants $450 for "generic" brand replacement pads)
>
> Any thoughts would be most appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Bob

$450?!?!?! just for front pads?????? go somewhere else right away
before you get bent over any further.

good ceramic pads are $60, Cheap ones are $28..


go to an independent shop. Some places will let you bring in your own
parts too.


> (Dealership wants $450 for "generic" brand replacement pads)
>
> Any thoughts would be most appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Bob

"m6onz5a" > wrote in message
news:4ed9fe48-61dc-4c39-83ab-

could be your rear brakes aren't adjusted properly and your front
brakes are doing all of the braking.
**********

This used to be a particularly common problem with GM 4 wheel disc brake
systems.

There was more than one 4W disc system involved, and at least one of them
was a
"dog".

Curious if anyone knows what Buick is using on the LaCrosse.

Robert11 > wrote:
>Hello,
>
>Have a 2009 Buick LaCrosse.
>
>Has only 25,000 miles on it.
>Sr. citizen now, and just don't use it all that much.
>
>Dealership says front brakes are shot, and front pads should be
>replaced. Rear are fine.
>
>When queried how this could be with such a low mileage, he asked if I
>brake with my left foot.
>I do.
>
>But am absolutely convinced that I do not "ride" the brake pedal etc.
>Foot is completely off when driving.
>
>So, is it totally unreasonable to require new front brake pads after
>only 25, 000 miles ?
>(Dealership wants $450 for "generic" brand replacement pads)
>
>Any thoughts would be most appreciated.

Take it somewhere else to get a second opinion.

Maybe you have a brake problem.
Maybe the dealer is trying to rip you off.
Maybe you're riding the brakes inadvertently.

A second opinion puts you a little closer toward knowing which of these
three is apt to be the case.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

On 4/26/2012 1:26 AM, Robert11 wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Have a 2009 Buick LaCrosse.
>
> Has only 25,000 miles on it.
> Sr. citizen now, and just don't use it all that much.
>
> Dealership says front brakes are shot, and front pads should be
> replaced. Rear are fine.
>
> When queried how this could be with such a low mileage, he asked if I
> brake with my left foot.
> I do.
>
> But am absolutely convinced that I do not "ride" the brake pedal etc.
> Foot is completely off when driving.
>
> So, is it totally unreasonable to require new front brake pads after
> only 25, 000 miles ?
> (Dealership wants $450 for "generic" brand replacement pads)
>
> Any thoughts would be most appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Bob

I had to replace the pads on my dad's old Cutlass after only a few
months. My understanding was that this model had brakes that were a bit
undersized and that was the breaks. Perhaps your GM carries on this
tradition of lousy brake life. OTOH, 25K miles doesn't seem that bad to me.

You should shop around and get an estimate if you think $450 is too
much. It costs me around $65 and a couple of hours work to change my
pads so I think that it is. $300 to $350, including parts would seem
about right.