</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by NoMo:
<strong>Thanks for the bit of clarification. Just want to make sure your brakes are working properly. They are kind of important. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

It's definitely not unusual for the rear pads to out-last the fronts. Most proportioning valves are set to around 65/35 (%front/%rear) fluid distribution. But I've seen bad valves and clogged lines that caused almost all of the braking to be done by the front. It's difficult to notice this under daily driving conditions.

Also, with my ever-so-slight aggressive driving style <img border="0" alt="[Pirate]" title="" src="graemlins/bppirate.gif" /> I've crystalized a few relatively new pads. With used vehicles, I think it's especially important to check everything and not just assume that pad thickness means that everything is "OK". Who knows? It might be my old car you've just bought! <img border="0" alt="[Drunk]" title="" src="graemlins/drunk.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">I'm just the opposite. I'm a brake's best friend. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> Because I do alot of highway driving and I downshift. I just went back and looked at my service record which I keep on a spreadsheet.

I replaced the original factory front pads at 56649 miles. I replaced them with good OEM pads.
No work was done on the rotors.

At 81581 miles I noticed some front brake chatter. I couldn't get the rotors off so I took it in. The rotors were slightly warped plus were worn below spec so they were replaced. It was at that time that the rear brakes were checked (Geez...that long ago?). The front brake pads were still good so they were retained.

Right now at 98K miles I have some brake chatter again. So what I'm going to do as soon as I get some time is replace the pads and the rotors myself with possibly Raybestos rotors.

So...given that Sportages are notorious for chewing up front brake pads and rotors I think I've gotten real good service. And I would think if my brake proportioning front to back was whacked out I would have seen more rapid wear in the front. Hasn't happen.

<small>[ July 02, 2003, 05:16 PM: Message edited by: Axe Man ]</small>