jglopic
Full Access Members
So, I am on my second 3rd Gen Expy (we like them and drive them hard). The first one we had, I did a brake job, and just like every vehicle I have owned, the pads were very distinct as to which was inside and which was outside.
Had to do the front brakes on my 2011 Expy EL over the Christmas/New Year's holidays. I was at my in-laws house and didn't have lift/jack/jack stands or a place to do the work. I called a friend of mine who has an aftermarket parts shop nearby, and he said his shop could do the install if I could get the pads and rotors.
Driving back home (1200 mile trip), I started to suspect the brakes were dragging. Then the ABS light, traction control light, and "Service AdvancTrac" warnings started to intermittently light up, finally coming on continuously (for the last 300 miles of the trip). I got home and checked the brakes the next day. They had definitely been dragging, and the outside pads were worn unevenly (top worn more than bottom). When releasing the brake pedal, the caliper pistons were not retracting properly. The brakes were so tight that you couldn't turn the wheel by hand without a 3 foot bar between the lugs.
I took it to a dealership near my house, and they investigated. Turned out that the whole issue originated because the pads were installed with the inside on the outside and the outside on the inside. The warning lights were because the heat had fried one of the wheel sensors.
So, be warned that the front pads on the 3rd Gen revised brake system (starting in 2010, I think) are capable of being installed backwards. There is very little indication as to which pad is which. And if you are going to pay someone to install them, go to someone who really does brakes. For what I spent on the original parts and labor plus dealership repair for my front brakes, I could have had a brake shop do all four wheels twice!
Had to do the front brakes on my 2011 Expy EL over the Christmas/New Year's holidays. I was at my in-laws house and didn't have lift/jack/jack stands or a place to do the work. I called a friend of mine who has an aftermarket parts shop nearby, and he said his shop could do the install if I could get the pads and rotors.
Driving back home (1200 mile trip), I started to suspect the brakes were dragging. Then the ABS light, traction control light, and "Service AdvancTrac" warnings started to intermittently light up, finally coming on continuously (for the last 300 miles of the trip). I got home and checked the brakes the next day. They had definitely been dragging, and the outside pads were worn unevenly (top worn more than bottom). When releasing the brake pedal, the caliper pistons were not retracting properly. The brakes were so tight that you couldn't turn the wheel by hand without a 3 foot bar between the lugs.
I took it to a dealership near my house, and they investigated. Turned out that the whole issue originated because the pads were installed with the inside on the outside and the outside on the inside. The warning lights were because the heat had fried one of the wheel sensors.
So, be warned that the front pads on the 3rd Gen revised brake system (starting in 2010, I think) are capable of being installed backwards. There is very little indication as to which pad is which. And if you are going to pay someone to install them, go to someone who really does brakes. For what I spent on the original parts and labor plus dealership repair for my front brakes, I could have had a brake shop do all four wheels twice!
