I love my Protege, but I frickin' hate the life span of the front brake pads. Throughout this six years of ownership, I'd replaced front pads like 6 times and twice for rotors! The pads lasted an average of 10,000 per change (unbelievable). Then, when I replaced the front rotors at 52K along with the new pads, it lasted up to about 23,000 miles, then it gradually declines to 15K, 12K, and yesterday, they started grinding at less than 9K!!!
I'd replaced the rotors again and front pads. So far, I've only replaced the rear shoes once at 90+K.
This is kind ridiculous, anyone with the same issue?

 

I have a 1996 Protege ES. I am consistently getting 18,000 on the fronts, 22,000 on the rears. It is ABS, four wheel disc and I have it adjusted more to the rear. A couple of tips:

1. Always use a high quality Carbon Metalic Brake pad. Don't go bargain bin here.(Autozone does lifetime replacement you buy them once, go in,pay for them again,replace, and bring the old ones back for full credit, what a country!!!)

2. The springs and clips are there for a reason, to hold the pads off the rotor when not engaged. Always replace at pad changes.

3. Always lubricate the slides and rubbers, and replace if they show any signs of wear and corrosion.

4. Always replace the rotors at pad replacement. On my car they $27 dollars at Autozone, and the scrap metal dealer gives me $5 for the old ones. It's cheaper than turning them.

5. In the rear, be sure you haveE-brake cable is adjusted properly.

But.... If you truly are 80sGUY, shouldn't you be driving a 1983-1989 Porsche 911Turbo Carrera in Guards Red, or at maybe Camaro IROC-Z (with T-tops). Maybe youstart out in an 1989 RX-7 GTU. At least a 1982 Pontiac Trans Am (complete with fire breatheing chicken across the hood) Complete with cassette deck and Falco tape. Rock me amadeus!!!

 

I didn't know about all the others besides just pads and rotors. I'd learned some from another forum and they'd mentioned the pins and guides too. Mine only had front disc brakes and the rear shoes were replaced at 93,000 miles. The only thing that was killing me were the damn frontpads. Nobody told me this and no mechanics ever acknowledged it (are they really that stupid?)
Anyway, I had new OEM rotors and pads replaced a couple days ago (at 118,700 miles) and the costs for parts were astronomical! IfI decide to keep it longer than the next brake job, then I'll be replacing the other brake components too.

Yes, I am the real 80sGuy: Heavy Metal and all. I once owned a Pontiac Firebird (just like Knight Rider),not in the 80's, but in the 90's (I'm not that old...yet). However, I do own a 1983 Porsche 944 and some 70's-80's Fender Stratocasters and Gibson Les Paul electric guitars- not to mention, a huge collection of 80's Metal and other European stuff on vinyl records.