MY WIFES 02 SEEMS TO EAT TIRES AND BRAKES ABOUT 15,000 ON TIRES 20,000 ON BRAKES ALL THE WAY AROUND TIRES GET ROTATED REGULARLY MAINTENANCE IS DONE ON SCHEDULE.I HEAR STORIES THESE VEHICLES DO THIS DOES ANYONE KNOW ANY INFO ON THIS?LOTS OF OTHER ISSUES TOO.I LIKE THE VEHICLE WE BOUGHT IT NEW,BUT IT SURE SPENDS A LOT OF TIME IN THE SHOP.ANY INFO WOULD BE HELPFUL.

 

I haven't heard of any common problems with either issue. You might have the alignment checked. Brake wear varies mostly by the way they are driven, but I noticed some of these vans seem to go through brakes quicker than others. If you can't find anything else, try a different brand tire.

 

I have 02 t&c....Had front and rear brakes replaced before 20k. I now have 44k and i am on my 3rd set of front brakes, 2nd on the rear, Third set of tires on the front and second on the rear. My family has owned many of these and found this to be that way for many years....I really love these vans but im sick of the stupid stuff like this. Otherwise the thing runs great and drives really nice.


PS. The A/C compressors are known to go on these and are covered fully by a 7/70 warranty and don't let any dealer tell you different!!!!

 

THX FOR THE INFO GUYS.AND YES I LOVE THE WAY THIS THING DRIVES AND HANDLES AND HAULING THE KIDS ON ROAD TRIPS WE PUT A TV IN AND IT WORKS WELL FOR LONG DRIVES WE HAVE DUEL BUCKETS WITH LEATHER IT IS A VERY USER FRIENDLY VEHICLE,I JUST WISH IT HAD THE STOW AWAY SEATS. TRYING DIFFERENT TIRES COULD BE AN OPTION BUT WE HAVE BEEN GOING WITH FACTORY REPLACEMENTS FOR THE HANDLING.AND YES THE A/C ALREDY HAD ITS PROBLEM AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ALONG WITH POWER STEERING PUMP NEW RACK AND PINION AND A GROCERY LIST LONG OF OTHER THINGS ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS ALL OF MY FORD TRUCKS ARE BOUGHT, DRIVEN,REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND 100,000 MILES LATER I SELL THEM STILL RUNNING PERFECTLY.GO BLUE OVAL.THX FOR THE HELP AND ADVICE GUYS.ANYONE HAVING ANY BETTER LUCK WITH NEWER VANS 05 06?

 

I am in the same deal....I have a 02 coming up to the end of our lease. I really like the van but i am kinda dissapointed with the little things. Brakes, tires, and now the struts are going at less than 50k and its not cheap for new. This is the longest we have owned a vehicle in a long time and aren't used to paying for repairs....If i do another lease i will do 2 years tops. Let them deal with the little crap.

 

gpzjack - probably not your struts. I was told the struts were going but didn't believe it on my 02 Grand Caravan with 62K miles, they wanted $850 to replace. So I disconnected the links from the sway bar to the struts and drove it - no noise. I replaced the sway bar bushings ($10.50 at Red Rooster Auto parts) and the front end clunking is gone. Try that first. I have not had any tire or brake problems, 42K on first set of Goodyears and front brakes @ 38K. Rear brakes are still the originals.

 

I also have an 02 that in less than 4 months I am on my second set of front brake pads and this van only has 40,000. Back brakes are original. Just had to replace 2 tires. I am being told reason for front brake replacement so often is that most of the weight in these things are in the front and the back brakes are only having to do about 10% of the work while the front does 90%. Reason for the second set so soon is that the stupid mechanic that replaced them put the wheels back on to tight and warped the rotors but check the rear wheel cylinders they have a tendancy to like to leak and need to be replaced for about $185 for the pair