Unevenly Worn Brake Pads

Taking proper care of your car can be difficult and overwhelming, even when you have a mechanic in Greeley who helps with maintenance. There are too many systems to keep track of on your own, and between scheduled oil changes, inspections, and replacements, particularly if you own a used car or an older model, it’s easy to forget about your brakes and brake pads, especially if they aren’t making any squeaking noises.

One common brake problem that almost any mechanic has dealt with is uneven brake pads. When you press the brake pedal, a simple mechanism clamps down on the wheel discs. You can see these discs in the middle of the car’s wheels behind the hubcap. The brake pads are made to apply friction and pressure to these discs, essentially clamping them on both sides, to get the wheels to stop turning, thereby stopping your car.  

These pads need to be replaced usually every 50,000 miles. Sometimes, the pads themselves, because they’re made of softer materials meant to grip (not grind) metal, they can be worn down unevenly. How does it happen and are there ways you can avoid it?

Causes of Unevenly Worn Brake Pads

The most common cause of unevenly worn brake pads is what mechanics call Disc Thickness Variation or DTV. Any small difference in the thickness of your discs will cause the brake pad to wear down differently over time. Thinner sections of the discs will slip through the grip of your pads more easily than thicker sections, so when there’s variation in disc thickness, your pads’ effectiveness will vary as well.

A mechanic will recommend machining the brake rotors to smooth out any thickness variation, but they can only be smoothed out by a mechanic so many times before this fix become ineffective. If you’re installing brake rotors or discs yourself, make sure you wipe them with brake cleaner first to clear the surfaces of dirt and other contaminants that could cause DTV.  

Another cause of uneven brake pad wear is the brake calipers. Components of the calipers, such as the guide pins, sometimes seize up and cause the brake pad to drag along the rotor when the brakes aren’t being applied. Your Greeley mechanic can grease these pins or replace them.

When to Check Brake Pads

Checking your brake pads every 50,000 miles is a good rule of thumb, but there are several noticeable symptoms of brake pad wear that you should pay attention to. First, if you have any difficulty braking, you don’t need us to tell you to visit a mechanic immediately. But another nearly surefire sign that your rotors are wearing on your brake pads unevenly is your steering wheel shaking when you apply the brakes. Mechanics will sometimes find that your pads have been worn through in this case and will likely suggest a replacement.

Visit Autotailor in Greeley for an inspection to determine the health of your brake pads and your entire braking system.