Well, that sucked.

[just ang]

Took my car in this morning for an oil change, plus the fact that my brakes have started vibrating/shaking.

-The rotors were totally warped but the brake pads were fine
-My front tires are wearing on the outside, badly
-I have a nail in one of the back tires

So, I had them fix the rotors (sorry, forgetting what they do to them). They also changed the brake pads-just what they do. Rotate the tires and check the alignment. I so would have spent that money in a much more exciting way. (yes)

 

[just ang]

Thought I'd add that I haven't even had her a year yet and she has 12,827 miles...

 

[mpvue]

if you do a lot of stop&go, short trips, brakes take a beating. your particualr habits also, w/o you realizing it, might contribute to the rotor warping.

 

[Robotazky]

I've got 16,000 and the brakes, rotors, and tires are perfect. Had you rotated your tires yet? I doubt it and that's why the outside of the front tires were wearing unevenly. They should be rotated every 5,000 miles. If that's too often to pay someone to do it, buy a jack and do it yourself. It takes 10 minutes to do all four. They changed the pads because you should always change the pads when you change the rotors so that the pads "bed". Google "brake pad bedding" and learn how to do it and your rotors won't warp so quickly. I get 60,000 miles out of rotors on my vehicles before I turn them. I have never replaced rotors, ever. Use common sense when you drive in snow, rain, or have to slam on the brakes. Hot to cold quickly warps metal. Let's say you have to quickly stop on an off ramp and sit. When you come to a stop, put the e-brake on and let off the foot brake. This will keep the scalding hot brake pads from heating one side of the rotor while air cools the rest. That will quickly warp a rotor. If the rotor is wet, i.e. rain or snow, realize that you have to gradually apply the brake and let the water evaporate before you slam on the brakes or the rotor will warp over time from doing that over and over. Driving through slush or water with hot rotors from stop-start driving will warp rotors. Basically, if you have to slam on your brakes or drive through water or snow/slush, make provisions to let it dry and cool evenly. Use common sense.

 

[AIMWO4]

Robotaz got that right.

I do a lot of stop-n-go and have only had to replace pads at 35,000 miles. I rotate my tires every 3000. I learned this from my Saab days. If one set of tires is worn a lot more than another, then you need to rotate more often.

I drive around corners like I'm in a Speed3, so I don't have the rear inside wear problem either.

My front set wear more quickly than my rear set, but not unevenly with the rotations.