Two-month-old brake pads are "purple", so it voids the warrantee?

Tiny
RAYSREALM
  • MEMBER
  • 2012 DODGE CARAVAN
  • V6
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 100,000 MILES
I had to buy new and warrantied front brakes, new calipers and new rotors from "Breaks for Less", they immediately squeaked no matter how gently pressed the brakes.

I returned after 2 months later to check them out with my warrantee and the mechanics tell me the brake pads are "purple" due to driver error. They over heated, they don't think they can honor my warrantee.

I know I don't drive much at all, nor do I drive aggressively, and there are no hills. It's only been 2 months, and it's been loudly squeaking since day one. I think the 2 issues are related. I think they didn't do something right when installing them it's making the squeak and overheating the brake pads under normal use. It's all new stuff, and almost positive I haven't been speeding around.

They said they'll have to call me back about the warrantee. I don't know what to do. I suspect just replacing they pads may not work. What is the squeaking? Or how do I fight the warrantee if I'm being wronged?
Tuesday, July 25th, 2023 AT 3:11 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
AL514
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,671 POSTS
Hello, the brakes squeaking is due to the shop not putting any brake quiet lubricant on. It's applied to the sections where the pads move back and forth during normal travel. And as for the pads being purple, when brakes get hot, what usually happens is the rotor will be dark and burned up, they will also warp causing the brake pedal to pulse while braking. I don't think I have ever seen a brake pad "turn purple" or hear that excuse. You can tell them you will call the better business bureau in your state about the warranty claim. That might change their mind really quick. It sounds like they just don't want to honor the warranty. It doesn't sound like they even did the job correctly to begin with.
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Tuesday, July 25th, 2023 AT 2:04 PM
Tiny
RAYSREALM
  • MEMBER
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When the conversation was nearly over, there was a comment that the squeak might be the rear brakes. Could failing rear brakes cause the front brakes to get overheated?
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Tuesday, July 25th, 2023 AT 11:13 PM
Tiny
AL514
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,671 POSTS
It's possible, but if you had the squeaking ever since they did the front brakes, they didn't add anything to keep the shims from making that noise, The noise happens when you are braking because the pads and shims vibrate at a very high rate, which is normal. But because it's at such a high rate, you get a high frequency squeal or squeak out of them. It can be ear piercingly loud. Below is an example of a pad kit, it's the metal shims you see that make that noise. Without any brake quiet under the locations where the shims sit and where the pads make contact with the caliper, you will get that noise. I have seen it many times over the years. Customers will come back the next day saying their brakes are squealing like crazy, and upon inspection there is no brake quiet. If your rear brakes are not working as well as they should, you will notice the front end of the vehicle dipping down when braking hard, because the front is doing all the work. But you paid extra for a warranty on those brakes, if they are not going to honor that warranty when a customer is unhappy, there is no point in it. And they just offer it to get people in the door. You would feel warped rotors on the front if they overheated. That is the first thing that happens. The brake pedal and sometimes the steering wheel would be pulsing and shaking all over the place. Take a look at the rotors, do they look dark and burned? You don't need to remove the tire or anything. Does your van have rear disc brakes like the front? If it does you should hear a noise from the indicators if the pads are getting low. Plus, that is something they should have checked when you were there. If they did the front brakes without inspecting the rear brakes, they just don't want to honor the warranty. Don't let them push you around, vehicle repair is very expensive these days and it should be done correctly the first time.
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Wednesday, July 26th, 2023 AT 10:47 AM

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