Question: The left front and right rear brakes on my Chrysler minivan wear out before the other sides. Any ideas?

Answer: Check the brake light switch. If it is shifting in its' bracket above the pedal it will prevent normal brake pedal return at rest. This will create residual pressure in the brake fluid circuit for the left front and right rear.

Question: I replaced the brake pads and rotors on my car but they don't seem to stop as well as the old ones. Why?

Answer: It may be because the new brakes were not allowed a "break-in" period. Brakes usually take about 100-200 miles of average driving to break-in. But hard braking that excessively heats the friction material (like panic stops) can slow the process or halt it entirely. If you wish to speed up the break in period use the 30/30/30 method. With moderate pedal pressure, bring the car to a gradual stop from 30 mph, 30 times with at least 30 seconds between stops to let the brakes cool.

Question: Why do replacement brakes never seem to last as long as the original set of brakes?

Answer: A lot of little things make a difference. Usually, only the brake pads are replaced which means the slides, calipers, etc are still the original. Since they don't release as quickly as when new, it results in sluggish return. This does not compromise safety but does cause the pads to wear more quickly.