2000 Dodge Grand Caravan brakes ?

I have a 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE with about 68000 miles. I am
planning on about a 2000+ mile trip from MN to CO and back and
wondering if I should take it in to a shop to have the brakes
checked? I bought it used at about 58000 miles and don't know what,
if anything, was done to the brakes prior to that? It seems to run
fine and the brakes seem fine but I am a little worried if I have to
do much mountain driving on worn out brakes?! Any suggestions? Is
there any good way of looking at them myself to see if they are worn
to the point of replacement?
Thanks for any help!
Steve

 

Can you be a little more specific rather than "the whole vehicle"
please?

I just changed oil and filter - put in Mobil 1 10W30. Installed new
air filter. The tires have about 25000 miles and they still have
decent tread. The front pair has about 1/4 inch and the rear has
slightly less. The vehicle holds the road well and doesn't pull to
either side. All the fluid levels are fine. The transmission shifts
smoothly enough. Drives and rides well.
It is capable of using E85 but i have never tried it. It gets about
22 mpg on regular 87 octane. It doesn't use any oil to notice.

 

Sounds like a plan!!! I think the whole vehicle should be checked out before
going on a trip such as that, especially thru the mountains.

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

 

"Steve"

From your posts, I was able to carefully calculate that you have 4856 miles
left on your current brakes.

Enjoy the mountains.


- D

 

I would also suggest checking the belt(s) and hoses. Is the water pump
making any noise or leaking? If so I would recommend it's replacement
too. If it seizes, it can take the belt and / or tensioner with it.

Rural repair shops can be expensive, and may not have the parts
readily available. My parents once got stuck for a whole day in
Glendale, NV, while the shop owner made the trip to Las Vegas to get a
part he didn't have. That trip added quite a bit to the repair bill.

Also wouldn't hurt to replace the fuel filter too, if you don't know
when it was last changed. It's any easy job on the 1991 - 1995 vans. I
am not sure where it is located on the newer ones.

-KM

 

Update!

I took the van into a local shop - not the dealer shop. I have some
trust in this shop from past experience. The rear brakes were packed
with brake dust and were all pitted. They had been making some noise
prior to this so I wasn't surprised. So I had new rear brakes put in
and
they turned the drums. The front brakes they estimated had about 20%
pad left so I didn't do them. They said they would do a 2500 mile
trip just fine. I had a front end alignment done. New tires
(Republic brand made by Goodyear) put on the front. Also had a new
serpentine belt put on. The bill was about $300 parts (incl tires)
and $200 labor
and took about 3 1/2 hours. The shop guy said I have a really clean
vehicle for it's age and miles. Not sure if he was just trying to
make me feel better about the bill or what?

I had already just changed the oil and filter the other day. I like
to use Mobil 1 synthetic 10W-30. I also put in a new air filter.
I checked all other fluid levels.

I just had new transmission fluid put in about a year ago.

Not sure about the water pump but it hasn't been making any noise or
leaking so hopefully it will be ok.

Hopefully I'm ready to roll!

Did I do ok?

Thanks!
Steve

 

Sounds like you did fine to me. Good luck on the trip and save that
shops name... Hard to find a good mechanic these days.

Steve B.

 

You have checked all the the essentials in my opinion.

Have a nice trip. I hope the weather is nice for you. As you already
know, It can go either way in this time of year in the areas that you
will be traveling,

-KM

 

And that is what a complete check up means

 

Thanks!

I'll give a short road trip report when we get back......Hopefully it
will be a good one!

Steve

 

Update!

Hello,

We just returned from our trip over the weekend. After about 2500
miles up through the mountains and back to MN we had NO problems with
the van other than a nail in a tire which was fixed for free at the
"Big O" in Loveland CO! Thanks to those nice people in Loveland!
Also, thanks to those who wrote in on this discussion before we left
with some very good reccomendations!

But it's good to be back home again!

Steve