One pad worn thin, its partner still thick
Every disc brake has two pads per wheel, one on each side of the rotor. In a healthy brake they wear at roughly the same rate. When an inspection finds one pad worn far thinner than the other on the same wheel, the pads are not really the problem. They are the evidence.
The usual cause is the hardware that lets the caliper move. On most vehicles the caliper slides on pins or rails so it can center itself as the pads wear. Those slides need lubrication, and over time they can dry out, rust or seize. A caliper that cannot slide pushes one pad hard against the rotor and leaves the other barely touching.
Replacing the pads alone puts new pads into the same faulty hardware, and the uneven wear starts again.
What to ask for
- Both pad measurements on each wheel, not just "the pads are worn."
- Whether the slides move freely, and whether they were cleaned and lubricated or replaced.
- The rotor condition, since a pad pressed on constantly heats its side of the rotor more.
A brake job that includes the slides and clips costs a little more than pads alone, and it is the part that makes the new pads last.
Signs it may be happening
A pull to one side under braking, a burning smell after a short drive, one wheel noticeably hotter or dirtier than the others, or pads that wore out much sooner than the last set. The national brake repair page covers the other warning signs.
A pull that stays after the brakes are fixed is worth an alignment check, and worn front-end parts are suspension repair, both at this store.
About this store
The Washington store runs seventeen services and is managed by Kurt Kottwitz.
See the national brake repair page for all 33 locations.