Any body know what the factory says about it?

 

Is there something specific you want to know? As with all vehicles braking distance depends on a number of factors such as pad/shoe composition, rotor/drum condition, tires, condition of the hydraulic and ABS systems, weight of the vehicle, road conditions, and more. Being nearly 10 years old I highly doubt a 2005 Caravan still has the factory pads/shoes, rotors/drums, or tires (unless the vehicle is hardly used). So unless those parts were all replaced with OE parts, I don't know what the factory could have to say about this issue this far out from when the vehicle was manufactured.

 

There are a million factors involved. Two major one's include brake pad compound and tire type. A used 2005 van will NOT have original tires or pads, so any opinion the factory had on this subject is not relevant. Do you have $20 brake pads from $99 Midas brake job discount deal or some generic $15 brand you bought down the street or genuine performance brake pads from the same manufacturer that supplies BMW or track racers????? do you have pep boy tires at 4 for $175 or Michelin's at $125 each? This is what matters.


These vans had brakes of sufficient size to lock all 4 wheels, but the antilock system will maintain threshold braking and prevent skids. With optimal tires and pads a 2005 minivan will stop as quickly as any $100K vehicle of similar weight, assuming similar quality and width tires and similar pads. A single panic stop will not overtax pedestrian (standard) brake systems. Brake systems on sports cars actually have longer stopping distances under a single panic stop scenario because they don't bite (grip) well until hot. Bigger brakes only help after repeated stops with no cool-down. Standard brakes only overheat under severe duty use which you would only get in a minivan if you were a bipolar road raging idiot, or towing a big trailer, which would be a gross misuse of equipment.


The key to quick stops in a minivan involve running premium semi-metallic front pads that are designed for heavy duty vehicles (not dustless ceramics). The AutoZone's Gold semi-metallic pads with lifetime wearout warranty bite real good on a 2005 Grand Caravan. You can toss your passengers around nicely and they will surely need their seat belt. If you slam on the brakes with these pads, you may get rear-ended. The van will stop on a dime.