Brake Pad Question

Doug E · 03-23-2003, 03:34 PM

Is there any harm in swapping brake pads from the inside to the outside on the same caliper?

TIA

bell · bell's Garage

no there shouldn't be a problem...........
BUT if they are wearing very unevenly you may have a piston in the caliper hanging up.
if your rotor is worn and you swap the pads from inside/outside you may experience poor braking ability until the new pad beds in to that side of the rotor.

personally i'd switch the pads, you don't want "uneven" braking

APKhaos · 03-23-2003, 05:31 PM

Take a close look at the pads.

If the surfaces are parallel to teh backing plates, but the pads are unevenly worn, its a piston/caliper issue. Swap the pads, but the underlying cause needs to be fixed.

If the surfaces are angled [pads surfaces not parallel to the backing plates] its rotor wear. Swapping the pads will result in reduced braking until they wear back to the old angle again. Best plan is to replace the rotors.

Replacing rotors is an arms race opportunity - see Marc!

Doug E · 03-23-2003, 06:10 PM

Pad wear appeared to be very even but under braking today the car pulled a little left. I just thought I'd try it for kicks and then check the pads again after next weekend.

Last weekend at the track I didn't notice anything so I'm not sure why it would crop up all of a suddent today.

A complete brake system overhaul was done last April: new rotors, pads, hoses and all calipers rebuilt.

I'll let you know what I find after next weekend.

Tom F2 · 03-23-2003, 06:47 PM

A bad tie rod end or a worn bushing can also cause a pull.

kstylianos · 03-23-2003, 08:23 PM

Doug,

I have 2 used, but otherwise good looking stock SC rear and front rotors you can have if you need. I have not checked for wear with a micrometer, but there are no grooves in the disc surfaces and barely a ridge on the top where the pads don't touch. Let me know.

Doug E · 03-24-2003, 06:51 PM

Charlie - Thanks for the offer and I PM'd you on the NoVa board.

Interesting idea about the tie rod/bushing aspect. I need to replace the ball joint on the left side (dust boot is cracked) so I wonder if that is having an impact. Something else to check now...