Brake Wear

[Dave_s]

I should have searched for this one first, but I'm not sure what to search for. My 97 taurus (4 wheel disk with ABS) is has strange brake wear in the back. The passenger side burnt through the pad an into the rotor (the later probably my fault) in about 6 months, on one side only (the outside pad was done, the inside pad had life left). On the driver side I have about 60 to 75 percent of the pads left. I replaced all the pads, and the rotor. I checked the mounting brackets and the pins slide nicely. The piston on the caliper rotated in easily. My only other thought was that the brake line could be clogged and the brakes are sticking. I bled the line and the fluid shot out as expected (was a little dirty though). Do I have a problem that I have not fixed, or was it likely just a warped rotor?

[shorod]

For the pads to wear unevenly like they did, that would indicate and issue with the caliper not being able to slide freely.

Did you pull the caliper slides apart and inspect them for rust, clean them, and re-lube them? Maybe they slide decent when there is no torque applied to them, but when you get everything together, they bind.

That would be unusual I'd say, but lack of free sliding seems like it has to be happening.

-Rod

[UsedtobeSmart]

Rod's right. I'd say that the caliper piston's not sliding properly. If you're not up to tearing the thing apart, and don't want to pay a shop to do it, try just replacing the caliper. Probably a lot cheaper, considering labor rates these days. Good luck!

[Dave_s]

I replaced the pads and checked all of the moving parts. I re greased the slide pins on the mounting bracket. Hopefully that will fix it. If not, next time I'll replace the caliper and mounting bracket pins. Thanks for the help.