Subject: Brakes 10% left
Question: On January 3, 2003, my car, with a mileage of 23,307 miles, had an interval service, which include LOF rotate/balance tires, clean and adjust front and rear brakes, clean air filter, adjust all belts, install fuel and oil additives, and 27 point inspection. In this inspection the service man did not report that I had any problem with my brakes.  However, on April 24, 2003, with a mileage of 28,041 miles, my car was inspected again and the technician advised me that my vehicle need replacement of the front and read brakes, it has 10% left.  Is it possible that after driving my car 4,734 miles, the brakes of my car could get this bad?  Can you keep me an explanation of what could have happened?
Answer: Luis,
There are several reasons why your lastest technician reported your brake pads/shoes and/or rotors at only 10%. Here are a few explainations I can think of:

1. The technician you had in January may have only checked one set of brake pads and/or rotors and assumed the others were just as good. Some mechanics will do that to save time, but charge you anyway.

2. The technician you had this past week in April may be over dramatizing your brake thickness. He may have reported only 10% left so he could sell you new brake pads/shoes all around your car. That's a lot of money for him

3. Your 27 point inspection may have different standards for rating brake life. Some mechanics may say that 50% left is not a problem. Some may say that 25% is not a problem. Unless you got a specific reponse as to the life of your brakes from the technician in January, its hard to judge.

But if both your mechanics are on the level and your current brake life is now only 10%, putting nearly 5000 miles on your car in roughly 4 months can cause signifigant reduction in brake life. A lot of it depends on your driving style, the kind of driving you do (highway or city), whether or not you are carrying heavy loads, and the integrity of your brakes in the first place. Some brake pads and rotors are better than others and last longer than others.

In short, there's no easy and quick explanation for quick brake life. If you want to get more confidence, have your brakes inspected by another technician for a second opinion.