When you get your brakes serviced, you might hear that one or more brake pads are showing uneven wear. Why is that happening? There are actually quite a few possible causes for uneven wearing of brake pads. Cary’s Auto Service has this information for you that can help you to figure out what’s going on.
Rotors Get Rusty and Damaged as They Age
Your car’s brake rotors go through a lot more than you think. They get hit by road debris, they are exposed to the elements, and they do form rust. All of that can cause small changes to the rotors that then create uneven wear patterns in brake pads as you use your brakes. Most of the time that’s not a huge variation, but if your rotors have big damage that can cause seriously uneven wear in the brake pads.
Rotors Aren’t Perfect Even When New
Modern manufacturing has come a long way and there are lots of ways that parts manufacturers ensure that they’ve got a product that meets specific metrics. That said, though, no one rotor is perfectly manufactured and there are minor variations in each one. As brake pads rub up against those variations, it can result in uneven wear. You may notice it more as your brake pads wear down than you do when your pads and rotors are both new.
Calipers Can Apply Uneven Pressure
Your car’s brakes function because of hydraulic pressure. Brake fluid travels throughout the brake system, giving added oomph to the calipers. If the calipers aren’t getting enough brake fluid or are malfunctioning for other reasons, they won’t apply steady, even pressure. That, in turn, causes uneven wear for your brake pads.
Brake Pads Aren’t Always Even to Start Out
Brake pads have some of the same manufacturing woes that can plague rotors. They’re also installed by hand, which can mean that sometimes they’re not always lined up exactly perfectly. Seriously misaligned brake pads will give you big problems right from the start and should be corrected right away. But minor variations are going to cause mild uneven wear, likely until you need them replaced.
Want to make sure that your car’s brakes are in good working order? We don’t blame you! Give us a call at Cary’s Auto Service in Tempe, AZ and we can schedule an appointment for you. We’ll inspect your brakes thoroughly and let you know what issues could present safety issues for your car.