Why have my brake pads worn unevenly?

[timanfiya]

My brake pads warning sensor has just gone off yesterday (A great thing I never knew my 407 did but bloody beeps alot). Anyway, I visually took a look and it is clear it is the rear passenger side which is worn. But the rear driver side doesn't seem o be anywhere near as worn? The front pads also seem to be wearing unevenly too? Is this a problem as whenever I have changed my pads on other cars they have always seemed to be equally worn down on both passenger and driver side???

Also, does anyone know if on the rear brakes the piston just pushes stright back in or does it turn to get it back in? Might sound like a daft question but I had a problem with the rear pads on my old megane as I couldn't get the piston back. Unlike the front brakes the rear brake piston needed some special tool that turned the piston back, just pressure on the piston to push it back in wouldn't work (well thats kind of what the garage told me who ended up fitting them for me said).

[nige65]

The rear pistons screw in i normally use a g clamp but you can buy a special tool and for the brake wear depends who changed them before most people do both sides but cheap skate garages might just have done one side .

[trem1]

As Nige says you can push the piston back with a g-clamp and turn the piston, but i find that too fiddly so i bought one of these from halfords (ebay is lots cheaper but i needed mine asap)

BRAKE CALIPER PISTON REWIND TOOL FREE UK P&P | eBay

you say both rear AND front seem to be wearing unevenly, same side ???
Abit too much of a coincidence to say the last person just changed pads one one side when its front and rear, I would just get thema ll stripped and serviced Ie copperslip and rebuild. if the pads are near the end of life just replace them while your there.....cheap enough and winters coming.

[timanfiya]

thanks guys, I usually use a quick clamp to push the piston back but how do you get it to turn if not using the special tool? (why do the rear screw in anyway?)

I thought maybe the previous owner only had one side pads changed but it was a company car before me and I would have thought they had to have done properly.

Treme, the rear nearside is clearly very worn whereas the rear offside looks to have quite a bit of life still. With regards to the front the offside is the more worn but there is not a lot of difference on the front ones (I have only visually checked through the alloy as I haven't removed them yet). But on the rear there is a definate wearing more on the nearside.

[trem1]

Originally Posted by timanfiya

thanks guys, I usually use a quick clamp to push the piston back but how do you get it to turn if not using the special tool? (why do the rear screw in anyway?)

I thought maybe the previous owner only had one side pads changed but it was a company car before me and I would have thought they had to have done properly.

Treme, the rear nearside is clearly very worn whereas the rear offside looks to have quite a bit of life still. With regards to the front the offside is the more worn but there is not a lot of difference on the front ones (I have only visually checked through the alloy as I haven't removed them yet). But on the rear there is a definate wearing more on the nearside.

the rears screw in and indeed out to keep the handbrake adjusted as the pads wear down.

sounds like you have a seized piston or something on the nearside again a stripdown and lube will sort it

[CAB]

Don't forget cars with esp could give uneven wear on pads as car brakes the wheel(s) it needs to for esp to work, I doubt it would cause too much uneven wear but worth considering.

[trem1]

Originally Posted by CAB

Don't forget cars with esp could give uneven wear on pads as car brakes the wheel(s) it needs to for esp to work, I doubt it would cause too much uneven wear but worth considering.

good point

[timanfiya]

Originally Posted by CAB

Don't forget cars with esp could give uneven wear on pads as car brakes the wheel(s) it needs to for esp to work, I doubt it would cause too much uneven wear but worth considering.

Interesting, I would never have thought of that. I have changed the rear pads today (luckily a neighbour had the rewind tool) and was easy enough. That rear nearside rear pad really was truely knackered. But turns out the rear pads dont have any sensors on them but the front ones do. So it looks like the sensor warning is warning me of the front pads. I thought they were ok for a good few months yet but gonna get them changed now as the beeping is driving me crazy. Not sure if the front pads are more expensive as been told they will have a wire going through the pad for the sensor?? Anyone any experience with the sensored pads. I was suprised that the front has sensors but not the rear.

Looks like the rear discs also have heat fractures so they are gonna need replacing too . Any idea on cost of discs? I'll be fitting myself.

And thanks Treme for the explanation, makes sense now. I will strip and lube when I do the discs