R55 :: Clubman Talk (2008+) Discussions revolving around the extended wheelbase Clubman (R55) model.

R55 uneven pad wear on new install of rear brakes

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 9, 2021 | 04:13 PM
  #1  
blueskymine's Avatar
blueskymine
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: NJ
uneven pad wear on new install of rear brakes

Hi all,

Installed new pads (TRW) and new rotors (EBC) two days ago, on a 2008 Clubman (base, non-s) with 170k miles.

Photo of driver side rear rotor shows nice and even pad contact on the rotor (coated in black, so it's easy to see)



Photo of passenger side shows obvious difference in pad contact.

Anyone know what I need to do to correct this?

Thanks in advance.
 
Reply
Old Aug 9, 2021 | 05:04 PM
  #2  
DFTR's Avatar
DFTR
3rd Gear
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 255
Likes: 74
Did you dress and lube the caliper and mount?
Wrrap a bastard file in crocus cloth and dress both mating slides. A thin coat of grease helps as well. But on second glance it looks like that pad ain't seated right..
 
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2021 | 03:43 AM
  #3  
blueskymine's Avatar
blueskymine
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: NJ
I was thinking the same thing, but the previous pads wore unevenly as well. I'm wondering if something fundamental is bent / out of whack. Hub, or caliper? I will strip it down again and see what I might be able to find.

I did lube the guide pins, the pads and use disc brake quiet on the contact points to the pads.

Thank you for the reply.
 
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2021 | 03:45 AM
  #4  
njaremka's Avatar
njaremka
Alliance Member
5 Year Member
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 7,521
Likes: 2,489
From: WNY
If you did the work, I would suggest getting back in there and seeing if anything looks out. If a shop did the work, I would be taking it back and having them make sure it was all put together correctly. From the picture, something isn’t right. But also from the picture, can’t tell what’s wrong….
 
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2021 | 04:54 AM
  #5  
crazy4trains's Avatar
crazy4trains
3rd Gear
10 Year Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 259
Likes: 33
The pad in the top photo appears to be installed backwards, but it is hard to tell for sure. The bottom photo doesn't show enough to tell.
 
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2021 | 01:33 PM
  #6  
R55_'s Avatar
R55_
1st Gear
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 20
Likes: 4
From: Wales
Hi - I'm in the middle of replacing rear calipers on a 2007 R55 that was wearing the outside pad on the RH side of the car unevenly (that pad 3mm, inner pad 9mm). Normally the inner pad wears more than the outer. The caliper piston on the RH one is sticking such that once the handbrake (ebrake for you guys?) is released there's still contact on the rotor. My initial thought was sliders were sticking but they are fine and the piston cannot be retracted. In this situation you may see one wheel gets a good covering of black brake dust (and/or one rotor/hub heats up quickly on a short drive from cold).

This may account for the original problem but not the lack of wear in your picture?

One other thought - check that the 'legs' or 'ears' on the new pads are not carrying an excessive amount of black paint/plastic/whatever - sometimes that can cause them to stick in the stainless steel carriers, a quick file/sand can help if they are.
 
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2021 | 10:44 AM
  #7  
thefarside's Avatar
thefarside
4th Gear
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 383
Likes: 72
From: MA
Originally Posted by R55_
Hi - I'm in the middle of replacing rear calipers on a 2007 R55 that was wearing the outside pad on the RH side of the car unevenly (that pad 3mm, inner pad 9mm). Normally the inner pad wears more than the outer. The caliper piston on the RH one is sticking such that once the handbrake (ebrake for you guys?) is released there's still contact on the rotor. My initial thought was sliders were sticking but they are fine and the piston cannot be retracted. In this situation you may see one wheel gets a good covering of black brake dust (and/or one rotor/hub heats up quickly on a short drive from cold).

This may account for the original problem but not the lack of wear in your picture?

One other thought - check that the 'legs' or 'ears' on the new pads are not carrying an excessive amount of black paint/plastic/whatever - sometimes that can cause them to stick in the stainless steel carriers, a quick file/sand can help if they are.
A piston that will not retract is usually caused by an old seal and/or boot. You need to either get a rebuilt/new caliper or pull the piston out of yours and replace the boot and piston seal. Scrape the grooves for the boot and piston seal until they are completely free of corrosion. Make sure both boot and seal are lubed with brake lube (SIL-Glyde for example).

Piston R&R is not that hard - use the brake lever on the caliper back to jack the piston out.

Piston can be screwed in with special tool. I think Pelican has a "how to" that shows this.
 
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2021 | 11:36 AM
  #8  
R55_'s Avatar
R55_
1st Gear
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 20
Likes: 4
From: Wales
Originally Posted by thefarside
A piston that will not retract is usually caused by an old seal and/or boot. You need to either get a rebuilt/new caliper or pull the piston out of yours and replace the boot and piston seal. Scrape the grooves for the boot and piston seal until they are completely free of corrosion. Make sure both boot and seal are lubed with brake lube (SIL-Glyde for example).

Piston R&R is not that hard - use the brake lever on the caliper back to jack the piston out.

Piston can be screwed in with special tool. I think Pelican has a "how to" that shows this.
The piston on this one is showing a fair bit of corrosion under the seal lip (138,000 miles and I think the calipers are original). Over here (UK) a refurbed caliper including handbrake mechanism/lever is not much more than the refurb kit itself so I tend to just go for a replacement caliper and save myself time and mess. Sitting around unloved outdoors during lockdowns has not done the car any favours.
I have two 'specialist' caliper retraction kits one is for van/light trucks - but to be honest I've usually managed cars with just a pair of needle nosed pliers and if the heavy duty 'winder inner' is needed then it is usually an indicator that the piston or handbrake mechanism is in need of some TLC - you can bet your bottom dollar that if a hard 'wind' is needed to get the piston rewound then the next pad change will involve a refurb.
 
Reply
Old Aug 15, 2021 | 12:20 PM
  #9  
crazy4trains's Avatar
crazy4trains
3rd Gear
10 Year Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 259
Likes: 33
Bluesky where are you???
 
Reply
Old Aug 15, 2021 | 05:44 PM
  #10  
RudeJoe's Avatar
RudeJoe
4th Gear
10 Year Member
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 496
Likes: 106
Pretty severe uneven wear. Did you make sure the pins slid easily in their holes? Did the pads fit easily in their seats? Does the parking brake mechanism on caliper retract properly after released? Does it look like the pad is sitting flat on the rotor?

When we serviced the brakes on my son's MINI after noticing uneven wear (and too much heat) we found the parking brake wasn't releasing, the internal parking brake mechanism in the caliper had seized up from corrosion. Another time we found some white corrosion caked up between the hole in the carrier and the rubber bushing. We had to file that stuff out before the guide pin would move freely.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
turp23
Tires, Wheels, & Brakes
11
Jan 19, 2022 01:19 AM
arseue
Tires, Wheels, & Brakes
5
Feb 21, 2012 11:23 AM
DaveTinNY
R50/R53 :: Hatch Talk (2002-2006)
26
Sep 1, 2008 06:38 AM
Chitown_COOP
Tires, Wheels, & Brakes
6
May 28, 2004 09:44 PM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:37 PM.