IllustrationTHE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 71,000 MILES. ON 10-9-01, IT WAS INSPECTED BY MCNEVIN VW IN BERKELEY, CA AT 65,456 MILES. THE FRONT BRAKES WERE SAID TO HAVE 80% REMAINING AND THE REARS HAD 70% REMAINING. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AT 70,558 MILES AND HE SAID THE FRONT HAD LESS THAN 50% AND THE REARS WERE AT 20%. SINCE …
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THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 71,000 MILES. ON 10-9-01, IT WAS INSPECTED BY MCNEVIN VW IN BERKELEY, CA AT 65,456 MILES. THE FRONT BRAKES WERE SAID TO HAVE 80% REMAINING AND THE REARS HAD 70% REMAINING. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AT 70,558 MILES AND HE SAID THE FRONT HAD LESS THAN 50% AND THE REARS WERE AT 20%. SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VAN I'VE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED TWICE WITH THE THIRD TODAY, 11-29-01. I CALLED THE BERKELEY DEALER AND HE REFERRED ME TO VW OF AMERICA. THE LATTER REFUSED ANY ASSISTENCE OR INFORMATION WHY THIS HAS HAPPENED SO OFTEN. WHEN I WAS NOTIFIED THE CAR NEEDED NEW BRAKES AT 27,866, I ASKED WHY SO SOON. THE ANSWER WAS THAT THE CAMPER CONVERSION WAS TOO HEAVY FOR THE EXISTING BRAKES AND I SHOULD EXPECT TO REPLACE THEM AT LEAST EVERY 30,000 MILES. THIS WASN'T REVEALED TO ME WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE NEXT CHANGE WAS 26,030 MILE LATER. NOW THEY NEED REPLACEMENT AT 16,800 MILES LATER. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HAS USED ALL CERTIFIED VW PARTS. APPROXIMATELY 60% OF MY DRIVING IS LONG DISTANCE FREEWAY WITH LITTLE BRAKING. ABOUT 40% IS CITY DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS WITH NO PANIC BRAKING. I DO NOT DRIVE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND AM VERY CONSCIOUS OF USING THE BRAKES BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. I HOPE YOU CAN GIVE ME SOME DIRECTION IN TRYING TO FIND A REASONABLE SOLUTION WITH THIS OTHER THAN SELLING THE VEHICLE. IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS I WILL HAVE SPENT APPROXIMATELY $1,800 FOR NEW BRAKES. THANKYOU FOR YOUR HELP. *AK