Brake pads wearing unevenly, why?

[overst33r]

Car: 2002 Nissan Sentra
Mileage: 100k

Upon changing the front pads/rotors, I noticed that the outside pad was showing nearly 3 times as much wear as the inside pad, on both sides of the car.

We had the car aligned about 3 weeks ago and it still pulled to the right. The mechanic said the reason for this was because one of the pads was touching the rotor.

Tire pressures are equal and there doesn't seem to be any uneven tire wear.

Now that I have changed the pads and rotors, the car still pulls to the right and I am concerned that the pads will still wear unevenly.

What could be the issue?

 

[Zenmervolt]

Sticking caliper. First thing to do is just grease the caliper slide pins, it may be as simple as the right side caliper binding on its pins and not sliding back all the way. I would grease the slide pins on both sides of the car.

If that cures it, great. If not, you may have a caliper that needs rebuilding. But definitely check the slide pins first as they are the most likely cause.

ZV

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Sticking caliper. First thing to do is just grease the caliper slide pins, it may be as simple as the right side caliper binding on its pins and not sliding back all the way. I would grease the slide pins on both sides of the car.

If that cures it, great. If not, you may have a caliper that needs rebuilding. But definitely check the slide pins first as they are the most likely cause.

ZV

I went ahead and bought new pins and greased them. I'll check the wear on the pads after a while.

As for the pulling. I switched the front tires and now the pulling stopped to the right and is slightly to the left, so I'm thinking its a tire/wheel issue, even though there is no vibration.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

uneven pad wear is usually due to warped rotors, u can get some cheap brembo rotors.

 

[Bignate603]

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
uneven pad wear is usually due to warped rotors, u can get some cheap brembo rotors.

:roll:

Suuure... Brembo rotors make so much sense on a car that's pretty obviously just a solid daily driver. There's no real reason to pay extra money for a wear item unless you're trying for higher performance.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Sticking caliper. First thing to do is just grease the caliper slide pins, it may be as simple as the right side caliper binding on its pins and not sliding back all the way. I would grease the slide pins on both sides of the car.

If that cures it, great. If not, you may have a caliper that needs rebuilding. But definitely check the slide pins first as they are the most likely cause.

ZV

I went ahead and bought new pins and greased them. I'll check the wear on the pads after a while.

As for the pulling. I switched the front tires and now the pulling stopped to the right and is slightly to the left, so I'm thinking its a tire/wheel issue, even though there is no vibration.

Sometimes a radial tire can have one of the circumferential belts come loose, which can cause a pull without a vibration.

More common though is what is called a "radial pull". Basically, it's a slight defect in the tire that causes a pull. It's not considered a "defect" by the manufacturer and it won't qualify for a warranty replacement.

Most common is a tire that has been worn irregularly and started to cause a pull. Even after an alignment, a tire with irregular wear can continue to cause a pull.

Don't worry about warped discs. You'd notice a clear pulsing or vibration when stopping if both front discs were warped enough to cause the type of brake pad wear you described. Besides, my experience is that uneven pad wear is most commonly caused by a sticking/binding caliper. It's possible for warped discs to cause it, but I don't see it that often and it's almost always accompanied by shudder/vibration when applying the brakes.

ZV

 

[Black88GTA]

This can also be caused by a worn out brake hose. When they go bad they tend to collapse internally, which blocks fluid flow, so the caliper appears to be bound up.

 

[StageLeft]

I have to ask because I Had a problem with my Nissan brakes recently. What grease are you using on these slide pins? Are the pins the kind that have the rubber sleeve on the bottom pin? Because if so, the rubber-safe grease from advance auto parts/autozone, etc. _SUCKS_ASS_. You need a silicone-based one, seriously. Even though their rubber-safe (advance currently sells a petroleum based [not good] rubber-safe called synthetic something or other in a green packet and a ultra ceramic one in a purple. I would avoid both and look for a silicone-based lube from somewhere) stuff may not wear out the rubber, it locks it right the hell up in the metal groove, whereas a silicone grease lets it slide easily. When I finally paid the cash for a lifetime supply of silicone grease and redid my pins they were able to glide like a hot knife in butter.

If your outside pad is far more worn than the inside, it would indicate to me (granted, I had to do my brakes three times last time so I'm hardly a whiz) that the pins are sticking to some degree; if the inside is fine it means the caliper piston is releasing properly but the pressure on the outside remains more than it should because the caliper assembly is not going to a no-friction point as easily as it should; i.e. the pins are somewhat sticky.

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I have to ask because I Had a problem with my Nissan brakes recently. What grease are you using on these slide pins? Are the pins the kind that have the rubber sleeve on the bottom pin? Because if so, the rubber-safe grease from advance auto parts/autozone, etc. _SUCKS_ASS_. You need a silicone-based one, seriously. Even though their rubber-safe (advance currently sells a petroleum based [not good] rubber-safe called synthetic something or other in a green packet and a ultra ceramic one in a purple. I would avoid both and look for a silicone-based lube from somewhere) stuff may not wear out the rubber, it locks it right the hell up in the metal groove, whereas a silicone grease lets it slide easily. When I finally paid the cash for a lifetime supply of silicone grease and redid my pins they were able to glide like a hot knife in butter.

If your outside pad is far more worn than the inside, it would indicate to me (granted, I had to do my brakes three times last time so I'm hardly a whiz) that the pins are sticking to some degree; if the inside is fine it means the caliper piston is releasing properly but the pressure on the outside remains more than it should because the caliper assembly is not going to a no-friction point as easily as it should; i.e. the pins are somewhat sticky.

I used a generic high-temp grease from advance auto parts. I used it on another car and had no problems, even during track duty.

 

[Howard]

whoops

 

[fstime]

Originally posted by: Bignate603

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
uneven pad wear is usually due to warped rotors, u can get some cheap brembo rotors.

:roll:

Suuure... Brembo rotors make so much sense on a car that's pretty obviously just a solid daily driver. There's no real reason to pay extra money for a wear item unless you're trying for higher performance.

Are you retarded? He is obviously referring to brembo blanks which are cheap as hell and sometimes cheaper than OEM.

Great quality too.

Anyways, it sounds like seized caliper pins to me, replace.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

Originally posted by: BouZouki

Originally posted by: Bignate603

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
uneven pad wear is usually due to warped rotors, u can get some cheap brembo rotors.

:roll:

Suuure... Brembo rotors make so much sense on a car that's pretty obviously just a solid daily driver. There's no real reason to pay extra money for a wear item unless you're trying for higher performance.

Are you retarded? He is obviously referring to brembo blanks which are cheap as hell and sometimes cheaper than OEM.

Great quality too.

Anyways, it sounds like seized caliper pins to me, replace.

yea nub. brembo oe rotors are GREAT for daily driving and are better than OEM rotors.
and NOT expensive.