Brake wear?

#1

During the Sebring 6 hr enduro Herrington and I were running Performance Friction 06 brake pads, what was strange is that both the left front and rear pads were totally gone by the 5 1/2 hr mark. In fact the front left brake piston melted into the metal brake backing plate. But the right side front and rear had plenty of pad left. Does anyone have any thoughts how the left side was totally gone while the right side was fine? this can’t be correct mechanically.

Carlton

#2

On the left side, were the inside pads and the outside pads worn down similarly?

#3

When is the last time you rebuilt the calipers?

Left side must have more friction to the piston and is not releasing fully.

#4

jlucas wrote:

[quote]When is the last time you rebuilt the calipers?

Left side must have more friction to the piston and is not releasing fully.[/quote]

+1.

#5

Carlton,

I was watching from the outside of the hairpin at about the 5 1/2 hr mark and your rotors both front and rear were glowing red hot. Little did I know that your were getting nearly 100% of your braking from the left side. Wasn’t it pulling under braking? Maybe, the brake drag contributed to your flat spot too.

Don

#6

Its interesting that both front and rears were almost gone, I think that might rule out a sticky caliper would it not. It seems unlikely they were both sticking. Did it pull under braking?

#7

Both front left and rear right were completely gone. Yes the car would was unstable under braking but not the first 4 hrs of the race, only once the pads were gone. driving the last 30 minutes was interesting but I knew I had little in terms for brakes so used better speed and shift control to make it home. The calipers have been replaced in the last 12 months. Plus it would be odd for both calipers to have the same problem at the same time.

Any thoughts on air in the brake lines, what would happen if there was air on the right side and not the left?

#8

Well, what’s odd about the air/fluid theory (possibly the mc) is that for the rear, it’s one line that splits to both sides. Which somewhat eliminates that idea…

Maybe, instead of thinking the rights are bad, what about the lefts not being good (making the rights do all the work)?

I assume you are running brake ducting for cooling?

Not sure I know enough about the system, but how about the ABS being the failure point (maybe the wheel speed sensors/wiring)?

#9

While asymmetrical wear on the front wheels could be problem with the calipers, lines or ABS unit, asymmetrical wear on the rear wheels can only be caused by a problem with the lines or calipers as there’s only a single ABS channel for both rear wheels.

I suppose there could be two different problems, one affecting only the fronts and another affecting only the rears, but since the simplest cause is usually the most likely I’d bet on a problem with the soft lines or calipers.