A year or two ago the front brake pads got worn out (down to metal) and due to time and financial constraints I merely replaced the pads. Figured I would replace them again later along with new rotors when I had more time and money.
I promptly forgot about it.
After continuing to drive it like I stole it the brakes started complaining again recently.
They weren't working very well, pulsed and were uneven. I took a quick look at them and was reminded of what I forgot.

Yeah. The rotors are discolored from heat, pads are worn and heat cracked. The scarring from the previous set that had worn out left less of a contact surface for the new pads.
So I finally replaced both pads and rotors.
Unfortunately, while I was there I discovered that the passenger outer CV boot was busted and almost all the grease was gone. And the passenger side caliper leaks.
Off to pick n save tomorrow hoping I can get a good axle and caliper. The 50% off sale will help.

 

We have a $20 bucket sale this weekend. If you can't get the parts let me know by Sunday morning and I can have them shipped out Monday.

 

That's not too bad, Jam. I once refused to sell a customer a set of brake pads because when I looked at her car, the outside rotor was completely gone in a few spots and I could actually see the cooling fins! She accused me of trying to upsale her. I tried to explain to her what was going to happen to her and her 3 children if she didn't get her brakes fixed properly. She said she'd just go somewhere else and I wished her good luck. That's when I worked at Autozone in Nashville. Across the street, there was an Advance Auto Parts. I called and warned the manager she was headed his way. He called me back later and said he refused to sell her any pads either because of the rotor situation. Geez!

 

I've seen worse as well.
I need to do rear brakes on my cherokee. Plan was pads and rotors just because I'm in there. Rotors are almost $100 each. So I'll see if I can resurface them before I order rotors. I think oreillys will do it for around $15 each. They dont really need it. But the better half drives it. And hauls kids around.
piece of mind

 

Damn, I didn't know anyone still turns drums and rotors. It's become such a disposable world we live in. If I'd known that, I'd have saved those heavy bastards off my sons F-150 when I replaced all four of his. And you can't beat peace of mind when it comes to your loved ones.

 

Turned out the 50% off sale was for next week.
I get paid again before then so we're just going to buy new parts then.
Meanwhile I'll just hope the CV joint holds up until then. I do at least have the van as a backup now.
I'm not worried about the leaking caliper since I've got plenty of brake fluid on hand (had another car with brake issues so I had built up a supply).

My point in posting this experience is because I have a history of having to do some makeshift repair because of time or money constraints and then once the car's back on the road I forget all about it.
Later it comes back to bite me like this did and I'm having to make the same or greater repair again at an inopportune time, once again having to do some partial repair and once again forgetting about it once it's back on the road.

By the way, the other rotor looked even worse:



I've had a lifelong issue with getting so distracted by multiple demands on my time and resources that whatever isn't "in my face" so to speak gets put off, ignored or forgotten.
Still working on a better way.

 

If you have an Android phone, one of the Google Assistant functions is note to file.

Long hold the button, when it beeps, say"note to file". Wait for it to beep. It will ask you what the note is. Then beep. Then slowly say what it is so it spells it correctly. At the end it beeps. Stored. Can't lose it. Always have it with you. Other people can't mess with it. I don't remember where it gets stored on the phone but that's on the internet somewhere.

Point is You don't have to stop what you're doing with your hands except to press the one button to launch the assistant. The rest is all talking and you can be doing something at the same time.

Give it a try. You might be surprised.

 

Also, I don't know if you guys know these exist when working on calipers with banjo bolts. They are one of three things I have ever found useful at AutoZone. I think they are a dorman product. It's a simple rubber plug that is the same size as the hole in the banjo fitting. It serves to stop or at least slow down the drainage of brake fluid if you are in a crazy hurry and need to swap caliper and run or if you just don't want to make a huge mess like I do whenever I work on anything.

I know, I could just drain it into something, and keep the end submerged, but this way it limits the amount of air that sneaks into the system while I'm working on the caliper without me knocking the other setup over and spilling it, of which I have a record of 100%. That is its main benefit

 

A while back I bought a bunch of cork and rubber stoppers in multiple sizes at Lowe's for just such a thing.
I used about a dozen of them when I pulled my 89 Honda Accord apart.
They work great! I just wish I had thought of it like 20 - 30 years ago.

 

Still haven't got around to replacing the front brake calipers (have fresh ones both on hand) but I did finally get the oil pressure switch and passenger axle replaced.
Funny thing is the passenger brake caliper which had started leaking during the brake work previously showed no signs of leakage when I was replacing the axle yesterday.
I'm still going to replace both calipers but I found it odd that it would leak and then not leak. All my past experience has been that once a part of the brake system starts leaking then all it will ever do is leak MORE over time, not less.
(shrug)