> Then all you did was the pads. If you have to do the ENTIRE brake system > in the front, as I just learned -- rotors, etc. -- it will cost well over > $500. > > Tere Last year I replaced the front rotors (from NAPA) for $60 each and the pads were another $40. Labor took about an hour and a half per side. It was not a complicated procedure and I don't think I had to bleed the brakes either. Pay attention to torque settings on the main nut to the spindle and you will be fine. It needs to be tighter than I thought it would be. > Robin, > > When I am towing I always use Drive, you risk burning your transmission up > if you tow with overdrive (which I gather is why the explorers tend to have > transmission problems). I can understand the need to rebuild brakes, and in > my own opinion, yes you will only have to repair the brakes, but at what > cost? > > -Dan If you are towing with a light trailer you can use OD when you are up to speed on the flats or for going mildly downhill. If the tranny starts shifting a lot, then you should definitely shift to Drive. With my light (motorcycle) trialer I run 75 on the freeway with no problems. If I was in drive my fuel mileage would be shot and it would overrev the engine. Jerry

Hum. Maybe I should mention that my Explorer is a 91, with 4WD? Does that make the difference he said it did? I know when I had the same work done on my Nissan Altima, it cost over $400, so I wasn't surprised (a different shop did those brakes).

Point taken. My inlaws went through the pain of $1500 to have their transmission in their Dodge Ram replaced due to the fact that they did not know that they could not run in OD.