NHTSA Complaint #722062 — 1998 GMC SIERRA

BRAKE DESIGN IS INADEQUATE FOR SIZE OF VEHICLE, ONE TON 4WD TRUCK ALSO MOST 3/4 SUBURBANS AND TRUCKS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IN THE PAST THE TRUCK HAS PULL HARD LEFT ACROSS THE ROAD WITH NO PRIOR WARNING, BRAKE PADS ARE REQUIRED TO BE REPLACED DEPENDING ON PADS EVERY 5000-10000 MILES. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN IN UNDER WARRANTY THREE TIMES TO REPLACE PADS, ONCE TO REPLACE ROTORS, ONCE TO REBUILD CALIPERS, AND ONCE TO REPLACE REAR DRUMS WITH 21000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. IT APPEARS THAT NORMAL PASSENGER DESIGN SIZE BRAKES WERE USED ON A LIGHT TRUCK AND THAT THE PROPORTIONING BETWEEN FRONT AND REAR UTILIZE THE REAR BRAKES VERY LITTLE. THIS BRAKE LIFE IS WITH OUT ANY TOWING OR HEAVY HAULING. GIVEN THE LIFE WHICH IS ABNORMALLY LOW, DURING STEEP MOUNTIAN DRIVING ON A LONG TRIP THE FRONT PADS COULD FAIL WITHOUT WARNING AND THE FRONT APPEARS TO BE DOING ALL THE BRAKING ON UNDER DESIGNED SIZE PADS. WHY ELSE WILL THE 2000 MODELS CREW CAB 4WD HAVE HUGH 4 WHEEL DISC BRAKE SETUPS?? GM HAS DONE NOTHING TO RETROFIT OR RESOLVE ISSUES EXCEPT REPLACE PARTS OVER AND OVER, REFERENCE GM FILE # 99063603...THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE. *AK