Brakes deteriorated from being kept not in a garage, but outside. I believe these were the original drum brakes, 11 years of hot summers, icy winters and 84k miles later. Latest two drivers of the vehicle -- not me, who likes to baby my Neon -- may have also been more aggressive in their driving habits and may have contributed more to the one drum failing.
Original brakes on this car -- at least the disc brakes -- lasted for the first approx. 45k miles.
Parts plus labor here in Northern VA (USA) = approx. USD $490 in August 2011 at a trusted NON-DODGE mechanic. (The only Dodge mechanics I've ever had a good relationship with were at Sam Nay's Waco Dodge-Hyundai in Waco, TX from about 2000-2005, which I think now only services Hyundais.)
In addition to repair costs, we also needed a flat-bed tow here in Northern VA at USD $115 to get it safely to the mechanic a few miles away.
Expensive and inconvenient, but not horrendous given the age of the car -- nothing more than a serious annoyance when you have a decent emergency fund just for stuff like old car repairs.
We just got the car back yesterday. Everything seems to be in working order for now. Underside looked rather corroded / rusted, so more problems may come down the road. We'll just do what we can to keep her patched up at least until we're out of serious debt. = )
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Brakes deteriorated from being kept not in a garage, but outside. I believe these were the original drum brakes, 11 years of hot summers, icy winters and 84k miles later. Latest two drivers of the vehicle -- not me, who likes to baby my Neon -- may have also been more aggressive in their driving habits and may have contributed more to the one drum failing.
Original brakes on this car -- at least the disc brakes -- lasted for the first approx. 45k miles.
Parts plus labor here in Northern VA (USA) = approx. USD $490 in August 2011 at a trusted NON-DODGE mechanic. (The only Dodge mechanics I've ever had a good relationship with were at Sam Nay's Waco Dodge-Hyundai in Waco, TX from about 2000-2005, which I think now only services Hyundais.)
In addition to repair costs, we also needed a flat-bed tow here in Northern VA at USD $115 to get it safely to the mechanic a few miles away.
Expensive and inconvenient, but not horrendous given the age of the car -- nothing more than a serious annoyance when you have a decent emergency fund just for stuff like old car repairs.
We just got the car back yesterday. Everything seems to be in working order for now. Underside looked rather corroded / rusted, so more problems may come down the road. We'll just do what we can to keep her patched up at least until we're out of serious debt. = )
- Lynda G., Aldie, VA, US