Brake dust on one wheel

[J Wikoff]

I noticed yesterday that I've got a lot of brake dust on the right rear wheel while the rest are pretty clean. The brakes are all original still, and the pads are getting to the point of needing replacement at 65k miles and being pretty thin. There is a small amount of warped rotor feel too that has been around for a long time. The dealer turned the rotors early on for some shudder, but it came back a while later like I told them it would... but it's not new and hasn't increased abnormally recently. I've read around and it sounds like this is normally a caliper issue. The part that gets me is that the dust isn't even around the whole wheel. One third of it is almost clean and it fades into a pretty dirty wheel.

[-Ray-]

Most likely that the seal in that caliper isn't pulling it back after you let off the pedal. That pad should be thinner than the others.

[J Wikoff]

Well, knowing the brakes were due anyway, I bought Centric slotted rotors, Wagner Thermoquiet ceramic pads, and a right rear caliper. Already have a set of Russell braided lines too. I'll give that caliper a good once over when I do the brake job and replace it if necessary. If not, I'm only out shipping once I return the caliper.

[J Wikoff]

I haven't swapped any parts yet since my time is limited, but I thought I'd update.

I noticed last week I could hear that the wheel in question grinds while braking. The grind goes away when not braking. So it seems like the caliper is releasing like it should. Is it likely that the caliper is fine, given that, and it's just the very thin pads? I can see the outer pad is super thin. Can't see the inner with the wheel on, but I bet it's worse off.

[MIEngineer]

I wouldn't necessarily replace the caliper.

Disassemble, inspect the pads. If there is a lot of wear and it is uneven, i would completely disassemble the bracket and clean and lube the pins, clean the rubber boots, and inspect and lube the seal on the piston. Confirm the piston moves freely.

Did this to my GXP last year. Complete rehab @ 42K or whatever it was.

I've done it to vehicles several dozen times, and a caliper replacement is overkill if not really required. Recently did my fiancees 2006 Nissan Maxima. I have no idea how that thing stopped, it was completely locked up. 0 pedal travel, i want to throat punch whoever touched that car previously. Everything works flawlessly now.

[Chewy]

You can just use some kerosene and a tooth brush to clean around the pistons as well. Kerosene is a great cleaner.

[donkeyGT]

Sounds like the studs on the pads are in contact with the rotors if they are thin. Like you said every brake job I have ever done the inner pad has had the most wear.

[J Wikoff]

I replaced the brakes today. The inner pad was wiped clean and the backer plate & rotor were grinding each other away. The caliper pistons retracted normally and the bracket slid fine, so I did not replace it.

[J Wikoff]

Here's the bad rotor and pad. You can see all the pad material is gone from that inner pad. About a third to a half the rotor thickness had been ground off.





Newness:




I also had to replace the hard brake line to the right front. When I first got the Russel stainless hoses, probably 5-6 years ago, I tried to install that one first. The nut on the hard line rounded off with ease, so I left it alone and put the hoses on the shelf. This time I forced the issue and got a new hard line just in case. I got them installed on all the other corners without issue then came to that one last. Before even touching the existing line, I made sure I could get the new line installed without major dis-assembly. The pop-out pass-thru panel and the ABS unit being right there were a Godsend. It was still a little difficult with the original line still in place, but once I persuaded the new one in far enough to know it would go in, I cut the original out and went on my merry way.

BTW, the caliper mount bolts are thread-locked into place. I'm pretty sure I stress-fractured my forearm breaking them loose with my 3/8" ratchet. I'd LOL but my arm really does hurt.

[Markmsf3]

I don't know why it happens, but I drive a Dodge Charger police car at work and we have a fleet of Chargers and when checking the brakes, we always look at the inside pad of the back right rotor. It's the one that wears out first all the time on every car.