Brake Pad Riddle?

[HDJdreams]

I have had unimpressive brake performance for the last several years.

I just went through my rear axle (which was leaking gear oil all over the drivers side) replacing bearings, seals, parking shoes, rotors, calipers (because one leaked as I pushed the piston back in), pads, and Slee stainless steel lines. I thoroughly vacuum bled the rear system including LSPV until clear fluid came out consistently.

Sadly it didn't make any difference.

As I started on the front axle to replace the brakelines and bleed, I noticed that the passenger inside pad was almost worn down to the metal scraper while the passenger outside and both driver's side pad are thick and look basically new. The rotors are still plenty thick and smooth/flat (no grooves).

Surprised at the uneven pad wear. Does this mean that the piston seals inside my 20 year old original OEM calipers are shot?

 

[jpoole]

Sounds like corrosion/sticking in the passenger side front caliper pistons. Decent chance that the passenger front pads haven't been releasing completely and have therefore worn down a lot more that then driver side front pads due to dragging. Rebuild or replace the front calipers and you should be good to go.

 

[bajaphile]

I've read here that if you can engage the ABS (have some fun on some dirt and jam the brakes) it can help with poor braking performance. Mainly with getting air out of the system...but worth a shot if not done already.

 

[ajax1]

Change front calipers , Napa eclipse are remaned Toyota every set I've seen you want the ones painted black and look for the same markings as your originals. Did you replace all the old rubber lines? Might want to do rotors too since likely your old calipers were sticking wearing down the rotor at least check the run out of them. Bleed the calipers every couple days till all the air settles out. I have always just done a gravity bleed cause it works and takes only you

 

[Malleus]

I had this happen on my '94 this summer. The calipers were stuck on the pins.