96 coupe repairs

[beamer]

boy am I glad I bought the extended warranty on my 96 collector's edition. I bought it a yr ago with 22,000 miles from a lincoln dealer. one owner trade in , and bought a extended warranty through ford motor. I have 32,000 miles on it now - took it to the lincoln dealer - they sent it to the chevy dealer down the street. they are replacing the rack and pinion steering, the power steering pump, the automatic temp control - the ac wouldn't come out of the dash ducts. they said i needed new brake pads.
are pads at 32,000 miles usual on a 96 c4?
and i got a free rental car til its done.
and I have a $ 100 deductible per visit, not per repair. paid a grand for the warranty - 3 yrs / 36,000 miles

 

[Dad]

Brakes

Seldom does the miles on a car dictate when the brakes are changed, it may have more to do with how many times the brakes are applied and how hard. I'm over that milage and I autocross every summer. I changed them on my 92 at 54,000 and all four at 92,000.

Sounds like your dealer may have found a cash cow and a way to sell a Thunderbird.

 

[Tuna]

I've replaced the pads on my 92 every 30k or so just because. They are never worn out and usually have 50% of their life left. I just do it because I want to.

I autocross some and I drive hard some and I still have plenty of pad left at 30k.

I don't ride the brake pedal either. I think one of the biggest reasons for early pad replacement is that people rest their left foot on the brake pedal without realizing it. This continous pressure will surely wear the pads out fast.

So, if your pads are truly in need of replacement, there is probably something about the car or driving technique that needs to be checked - maybe the previous owner was a pedal rester and did a number on them before you got the car.

If is better to replace the pads than wait for them to ruin the rotor first at any rate.

 

[beamer]

well , the back passenger brake was definately making that noise, like the pad was sticking. i noticed it when i applied the brakes, then it stopped when i let up but also started to get it when i was making a right curve.