When to Change Rear Drum Brakes?

[vue04]

I have 51,000K on my 2004 V-6 FWD Vue and need to change the front pads. They are emitting a slight high pitch squeal now. I ordered Duralast Gold from Auto Zone since it has a lifetime warranty. Should be ok. I'm very pleased at the longetivity of the front pads- 50K is good.

I'm wondering about when should I need the rear drums done? Does anyone have mileage based on my front pads?

Thanks.

[froggy81500]

Front brakes do much more work than the rears do, so its very typical for the rear brakes to outlast the front by as much as 2 to 1. While you're doing the fronts, its not a bad time to check the rears and see whether or not you need them as well. There really isn't any set mileage that your brakes should or could last, a lot of that depends on driving habits and braking habits. Right now, in the Dodge Intrepid I drive (getting traded this week for an Ion), I bought the car in 2004 with 48K on it and didn't do the brakes (4 wheel disc) until last July with around 86K on the car at that time. I do much more highway than stop-n-go, so brakes last me awhile. Judging by the looks of the rotors on my car, I believe they might have been OE with that many miles on it! If you do more stop-n-go then you should check them more often, highway and you can ride them out for years.