FAQ

Appearance:

• Friction material is contaminated with either oil, grease or brake fluid.

Cause:

• Spillage during maintenance, or fluid that has leaked from the caliper.

Effect:

• The vehicle puffs to one side during braking.
• Reduction in braking performance.

Remedy:

• Identify and repair cause of contamination.
• Replace the brake pad set.

Appearance:

• The brake pad friction material is glazed.

Cause:

•  High intermittent pad temperature over short time periods.
• Overly harsh braking during the bedding-in period.

Effect:

• Temporary reductions in brake performance.

Remedy:

• If light glazing is evident, no action required.
• If heavy glazing is evident, replace brake pad set.
• Check the disc condition.

Appearance:

• Uneven wear on the pad surface.

Cause:

• An irregularly worn brake disc or wear lip on the disc cause this pattern of wear on the brake pad.

Effect:

• Squeal and judder.
• Premature pad wear.

Cause:

• Replace brake discs and pads.

Appearance:

• Damaged backplate.

Cause:

• Incorrect assembly.
• Excessive force used during fitting.

Effect:   

• Braking efficiency.
• Irregular pad wear.
• Noise & judder.

Remedy:

• Replace the brake pad set.

Appearance:

• One or more brake pads within an axle set is excessively worn.

Cause:

• The caliper guide pins or piston is sticking.

Effect:    

• The brake pulls to one side.
• Uneven & overly rapid pad wear.

Remedy:

• Maintain all caliper slides and pistons.
• Replace pads and check replace discs if necessary.

Appearance:

• Rust between the friction material and back plate.

Cause:

• A brake pad sticking in the caliper bracket when braking flexes the back plate, crackling the friction material.
• Corrosion worsens this, separating the friction material and back plate.

Effect:   

• Noise and soft pedal feel.
• Once material has separated, brakes will not work.

Remedy:

• Replace brake pad set.
• Clean and maintain caliper to ensure the pad fits freely into the caliper during installation.

Appearance:

• Uneven wear or tapered pads.

Cause:

• The caliper is distorted and the caliper slides are sticking.
• Excessive caliper clearance.

Effect:    

• Premature pad wear and noise while braking.
• Uneven braking pressure.

Remedy:

• Replace pad set.
• Maintain and service caliper.

Note: Some vehicles use pads that are tapered by design.

Appearance:

• Damaged pads

Cause:

• These "handed" pads are not identical to each other within the set, and need to be fitted to either the inner or outer side of the caliper
• then fitted incorrectly, the pads will be damaged.

Effect:  

• Damaged pads.
• Reduced brake performance.

Remedy:

• Replace pad set to manufacturer's instructions as per the inserted diagram.

Appearance:

• Uneven wear pattern on the pad.

Cause:

• Incomplete contact between brake pad and disc.
• Disc scoring due to dust or excessive wear.
• New pads fitted to worn disc may also cause  this.

Effect: 

• Squeal and judder.
• Braking efficiency.

Remedy:

• Replace both brake pads and brake discs.

Appearance:

• Partially charred or burnt friction material. (will show whitish outer edges)

Cause:

• Prolonged excessive pad temperature due to intensive use or dragging or the brake pad on the disc

Effect:   

• Reduction in initial brake efficiency.
• Excessive material deterioration and abnormal wear.
• Material becomes brittle, chips and cracks.

Remedy:

• Investigate cause for overheating of brake pad.
• If damaged is not excessive, pads will be effective under normal use.
• If damage is extensive replace brake pad set.

Appearance:

• Small cracks in the center if the pad.

Cause:

• The crack indicate that the caliper is sticking.
• The piston bends the back plate causing the back plate to flex, cracking the friction material.

Effect:    

• Noise while braking.
• Uneven Pad wear.
• Vehicle pulling to one side during braking.
• Overheating on 1 side of the vehicle.

Remedy:

• Maintain and service the caliper.
• Replace the brake pad.

Appearance:

• Uneven wear pattern on the pad.

Cause:

• Brake pad is sticking within the caliper causing the brake pad to stay in contact with the disc with associated excessive pad temperature.

Effect:    

• Pad surface may glaze reducing brake performance.

Remedy:

• Investigate cause of caliper sticking
• Maintain the caliper.
• Replace the brake pad.

Appearance:

• The friction material is completely worn out.

Cause:   

• There has been no regular check of pad wear or proper brake maintenance.

Effect:   

• The vehicle pulls to one side during braking.
• Damage to the disc.
• High squeal and other brake noise.

Remedy:

• Check the disc for damage.
• Replace pad set and the disc if it has suffered damage.

Appearance:

• Metal pick-up (or ingrained metal) on the friction surface.

Cause:

• During normal braking small particles of the disc surface break off.
• During extremely wet conditions these are quenched, cooled fast to solid material, and adhere to the brake pad surface.

Effect:   

• This generally has no detrimental effect on braking performance, however in extreme cases, it can cause disc damage or brake squeal.

Remedy:

• In extreme cases, replace discs and pads.