About 2 years ago I bought front and rear "lifetime warrantee" brake pads from Autozone. 3 months ago the rear pads wore out. This seems like a short life, but I had a warrantee.
The clerk at the store looked up the record, and told me that this was a "limited lifetime warrantee", and that the pads were warranteed to not crack, or fall apart. There would be no refund.
I walked out disappointed, to buy new pads elsewhere. Two weeks ago, I did the front brakes. The drivers side rotor was heavily gouged. Upon removing the pads, I saw that the outer pad had cracked, and about 1/3 of the material had fallen off This caused the premature wear. The passenger side still had plenty of life. This would cost me a new rotor, but I had a "limited lifetime warrantee".
I brought the pads back to Autozone for replacement. The clerk looked at them and called the manager. They discussed my situation in spanish so that I couldn't understand (rather rude, since both could speak English). The manager then told me that my rotor had caused the problem. Too rough of a rotor caused the cracking, and premature wear.
Needless to say, Autozone will never get my business again.
Or my father's business.
Or any of my brother's business.
Or my father in-law's business.
Yes, they do a great job of taking the warrantee information, and entering it into their computer. This can keep you from knowing the details of the coverage.
PS, Marv's (Parts plus) up the road sold me pads and a rotor for less money, with a better warrantee, and even gave me un-solicited advice on what to watch for with this type of brake!
TimAlgonquin, Illinois
U.S.A.
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