Extremely Un-even brake pad wear, advice needed.

[WillRaceForBeer]

I have a strange problem with my 95 GSX. For about a year I've had issues with the Driver's Side Rear. It eats up brake pads at an alarming rate, and gets fairly hot even on short trips (considerably hotter than the other three brakes) On long trips even the wheel is VERY HOT. So far I have replaced the wheel bearings and hub, rotor, and pads. Lately it's gotten worse, I think I went through one pad in several months, while the fronts have not been replaced in a year or two. The caliper seems to still open and close properly. I can open it by pulling outward while the caliper is on the car, and of course I open the caliper when replacing the pads. The parking brake does not seem to be applying pressure or rubbing in a way to generate extreme heat.

Incase this helps, My car does have ABS, but it has been disabled for 4 years by means of pulling the fuse. Also, some of the speed sensor lines that read from the axles are broken.

Any ideas on what could cause the brakes to operate like this?

 

[jtmcinder]

You can pull the caliper open by hand?!

In any event, all of your symptoms point to a bad (sticking) caliper.

- Jtoby

 

[forcefed 95]

+1 to sticking caliper. Juat caust he piston moves freely in and out does not mean the caliper it self is moving back. I would remove the caliper and check the slidders and see what kinda of shape they are in. You might just need to clean them off and aply some grease to them.

 

[WillRaceForBeer]

You can pull the caliper open by hand?!

In any event, all of your symptoms point to a bad (sticking) caliper.

- Jtoby

I know I was quite shocked too! I was convinced the caliper was sticking, and the past few weeks had been thinking about rebuilding both rear calipers. Last night, with the car fully assembled and driveable, I was able to reach through my wheel and grip the back of the caliper, and pull outward. This puts pressure on the piston and closes it, when i let go, the break pad can wiggle freely. I can do this on both rear calipers, I have not tried the front.

I suppose that doesn't prove that it's not sticking, as pulling on them might just overcome the "stickiness."

 

[daren_p]

First thing that comes to mind is the caliper sliders. Have you removed them to make sure there in good condition? I recently did my rear brakes & when I removed the top slider it was abit seized & the little rubber gromet that is supposed to be attached to the slider stuck in the caliper. I cleaned the pins up & installed everything. When I was done breading the pads I noticed this side was hotter then the others. I continued to check the calipers after driving & it was always hotter. I ordered a new slider & rubber gromet from the dealer & after some screwing around was able to remove the old rubber gromet that was still siezed in the caliper. Cleaned out everything real well, lubed up the sliders & it now runs nice & cool. So I'd verrify that the sliders are in proper condition & maybe think about also doing a caliper rebuild while your at it, since your piston operation doesn't sound normal.

 

[wret]

I agree that it sounds like a stuck caliper. For me a rebuild kit solved the problem.