2002 Chevrolet Cavalier LS from North America - Comments

Brakes/Rotors have been replaced three times since I bought the car.

Paint chips easily.

I am finding that the brakes put on Cavaliers before 2003 are horrible! I have had mine replaced five times since I have owned the car. The rotors have been replaced three times, and the brake pads have been replaced twice as much. Whenever I took it back to the dealer, they would just resurface the rotors, replace the brake pads and I would be on my way. Two months later, back in the service shop. After 18,000 miles, they no longer replaced anything telling me I would have to pay for them. I understand warranties and everything, but if you would fix them right the first couple times, this kind of situation wouldn't happen.

I am currently in the process of saving for a new car.

I don't understand your brake problems. My 2002 Cavalier still has the same brakes at 32 000 miles and I check them and I'd say they are still good for at least 15 000 more miles! How about your tires? If you can't keep them for 40-45 000 miles then you don't have a brake problem... you have a "driving" problem!

I don't understand your brake problems.

You are either driving with your left foot on the brake or you are just really hard on them or living in a very hilly terrain.

If I was a dealer I too would refuse to give you warranty on them.

My brakes on my 02 lasted close to 40,000 miles and I am a fairly aggressive driver.

You probably are hard on your brakes, I'm also hard on mine and mine were replced at 23k and are almost needing replacing again at 30k.

I cannot say that I had any problems with my brakes. I drive fast and hard, but never had any real problems. Yes, I had to change my rotors, but I had the car for 4 years now. I only changed my front brakes last year at 70000km and my rear brakes this year after 90000km. (You may think that my breaks were metal against metal, but no.) So I only had to do regular maintenance.

Now, you say that they resurfaced your rotors. That is the worst thing ever. If you have problems with your rotors because they are warped, replace them with new ones. They only cost about 15$ CAD a piece before taxes. Resurfacing your rotors makes them thinner and will overheat more easily when you brake hard.

I do not know how you use your brakes, but I would suggest that you try to find a different way to use them. (Try pumping them lightly when you break,it will help reduce the constant friction and will not heat up as much.)

I have a 2002 Cavalier and have had MANY problems with the brakes. First I am on my 3rd set of brake pads at 57k miles. Any time it rains and I have to brake I almost hydroplane. I have to let off then apply pressure again to get the car to stop normal. It is like this after a car wash too. I have had it in the dealer a few times while it was under warranty and each time they'd say they were over adjusted or nothing at all. I do have to go down a big hill every day to get home, but the brake issue was going on before I even moved here.

You can't hydroplane because of wet brakes, just stop driving in puddles so quickly.

And its kinda obvious, after you go through a car wash, water is on the rotors inbetween the rotor and pads, so the brakes won't stop so well until they dry.

I have had my 2002 Cavalier for 3 years now, and I couldn't be happier with it. I got with 19000 miles and now it has 61000 miles. I am a hard driver and I have only had to replace my front brakes once at about 55000 miles.

I drive like a bat out of hell, drifts, 180's, power-clutching, this car is still holding after 24K miles... so, get off the exhaust fumes... and stay off em...

I am another disbeliever of your brake problems.

I purchased my 2002 LS in 2003 with 56 000 km. I do not know if they were replaced before I bought it, but I recently did my first front brake replacement at 154 000km. Back brakes are wearing, but will still last 20 000 km or more.

D. Nash.