My sister called to ask what finally drove me to the decision to put my '87 Volvo out to pasture six years ago. I told her that it was because the entire exhaust system fell out from underneath it and I thought it would cost more money than the car was worth to fix it. She mentioned that her current problem is that there is a problem with the brakes.

Give me a break!

Now I am not someone who is easily swayed by conspiracy theories but I am nearly convinced that there is a conspiracy among the car dealers and repair shops of the world around brakes. Eveyone I know has some problem with their brakes. I think that if you ever come into their locations they either tamper with the brakes to make sure they need some form of repair or they simply tell you that there is something wrong with your brakes. Then when they fix the brakes they don't fix them so that they last very long.

It isn't like you can argue with them or consider not fixing a problem with the brakes. It isn't like I can climb under my car and look at the rusty dirty parts near the wheels and confirm or deny that there is a problem with the brakes. The only things I can use to tell what is going on with the brakes are squeaking noises and red lights on the dashboard, both of which are very easy for a technically minded repair person to install.

Nobody wants to die in a terrible car crash caused because they didn't want to pay the $300 to replace a caliper. I can just imagine the conversation:

Repair man: "Your brakes are totally shot. You need to fix them immediately."
Dan: "Is this a necessary repair?"
Repair man: "You will die a horrible death if your brakes fail."
Dan: "I'll take my chances."
Repair man: "Congratulations -- you are the first person not to fall for the brake scam in months!"
Repair man gives Dan a handshake and Dan dies in a car accident three days later.

Although I have never thought much of a warranty on my television I believe that I could use an iron clad warranty that promised that my brakes wouldn't break.