Uneven brake pad wear

[nutt7]

I think my passenger side caliper may be sticking. The pad is worn more on that side and I can hear squeaking every once in awhile especially when turning, and it goes away when I brake. I am sorta new to these vehicles but I read that dirty pins along the calipers can cause this. (or brake lines). Also, If I rotate the hubs with my hand, BOTH sides drag a little, but the passenger side a little more (and squeaky). Is this normal? Reman calipers seem cheap so if the pins aren't the culprit should I just replace the calipers? Any other thoughts?

 

[toomany]

It could be the pins, or the bushings in the calipers. If they are the original ones to the truck they're probably getting worn out by now. You could try wire wheeling the pins and cleaning the bushings. But I'd start with replacing the pins. Using some anit-sieze (or the acutall grease) on the pins helps too.

The piston could also be sticking in the caliper. If that is the case, then caliper replacment is the answer.

 

[K5dreamer]

EVERY time i do brake work, i either clean or replace the pins. and also all the metal on metal surfaces where the caliper "slides" against itself. i take a metal file and take off the rust and smooth the surface, and then apply a silicone lube to those surfaces. as well as the pins. to date havent had a problem with a piston, ill credit that to good luck.

 

[nutt7]

Last time I replaced the pads, I may have taken brake cleaner and a lil grease to the calipers, but that was it. I remembered they looked old so I think I will start over and penny up for new ones (and pins). Thanks guys.

 

[4xcrazy]

Tear the brakes apart, replace the pads with some decent quality ones, as mentioned clean all the parts with brake cleaner and lube the slide pins and anywhere metal to metal slides. Also put a thin coating of greese on where the pads contact the piston and up against the caliper, helps minimize squeeling.

The squeeking you're hearing while driving is most likely the warning tab on the pads to let you know the pad material is getting low. It goes away when you apply the brakes.

i have always greased everything up as mentioned to help prevent squeeeling during braking, squeeling is just a harmonic vibration between the metal to metal surfaces vibration, grease it up, dampens it out. :-)

 

[nutt7]

Thanks. Does anyone know if its normal for the brakes to drag a tiny bit on both sides? Seems like they shouldn't...maybe they back off a little when driving?

 

[4xcrazy]

yes, they always rub the rotors alittle, dragging, not really, but that could be caused by the slides not being lubed enough, maybe being sticky.

 

[K5dreamer]

only drum brakes can operate without touching at rest. because drum brake shoes are pulled back by springs, you can adjust them so that there is zero drag while driving, but they will engage when you step on the brake pedal. disk brakes will always have pad/rotor contact to some extent because there is nothing "pulling" the piston back when at rest.

thats one of the reasons drum brakes stayed popular in drag racing for such a long time. they weighed less than disks, and had zero drag.