2018 Dodge Caravan

 2018 Dodge Caravan (Chris Linzmeier)

114,000 Miles approx. Chris drove it down to FL but had a problem along the way. He turned into a short curb and damaged right wheel bearings slightly and had it fixed about a hundred miles later. New wheel bearings on left and right front.  The mechanic noticed a problem with the sliding pin of the right front brake caliper and we took it off to inspect and it was rusted and frozen.  We didn't try real hard to free it because we didn't want to get in over our heads. Took it to George in Leesburg and he was too inclusive and busy.  Discovered another mechanic (Hampton's) and took it there. We had seen both pins on the left rear caliper were frozen. Left it there for all to be put in order. More later.

2018 Dodge Caravan (Chris)

Chris bought this new a few years ago and has put 122,000 or so on it. He has had a lot of road trips and it is a beautiful car.  Looks very good yet. Except the brakes because of the salt in the winter up in WI, I think. He drove it down here to FL to visit in March 2021 and bumped the right front wheel over a curb up by Clarskville, TN somewhere. Stopped at a small town mechanic and had two new front wheel bearings put in. While up on the lift the mechanic noticed right front brake caliper slider on bottom was frozen.

We had looked at the left rear caliper and found it corroded and both slide pins frozen, but felt we could deal with that as a secondary issue.  They put it up that afternoon and quoted him $1100 for all four calipers, rotors, hoses, and pads.  They had found what we knew to be a true problem. Chris went for it and a few days later drove back north with new stuff all around and the two new front wheel bearings, but a small fold under the door, which I am sure we could have fixed with a vice-grip, piece of lath, and a rag, but didn't.

We can't claim any great success from this mission other than finding the deal, and a mechanic closer and cheaper than the one I had.