Brake Pads Wearing Too Fast
Posted in Brake Discs & Pads | Asked on Aug 30, 2010
Below is the question about Brake Pads Wearing Too Fast, I recently bought a new pair of brake pads for my 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer ES. It was about 5 months ago and I got them from my local Carquest store. They told me they were the best brake pads they had. I put them on, and now the brakes were making horrible noises, like metal on metal noises. I checked the pads and they are now about the thickness of a dime. How could they wear so fast? Thanks, all input is appreciated.
There are 9 Answers for "Brake Pads Wearing Too Fast"
Maybe! someone rides the brakes. You should check with the other drivers.If there are no other drivers, occasionally take YOUR foot off the brake pedal!
Your brake rotors are scored, take them to Big O they’ll spin them for you and make them smooth I had that problem with my 99 Tahoe because the people that owned it before me desided to run on metal to metal contact for a month so my rotors were screwed up and i ended up having to buy a new rotor but I also have 20” rims on my Tahoe so my brake pads go fast or if your a hard braker if you hit stop and go traffic break pads wear fast. If you bought the most expencive they should have a lifetime warrenty on it take them back they should give you a new set of pads.
You may need to have the rotors turned, and change/adjust the rear brakes too. They also help stop the car, ya know.
Bleed the brake lines to get fresh fluid in there if you haven’t done it in a couple years.
It sounds like, when you replaced the pads, you didn’t lubricate the pins that the pads slide in and out on. Failure to do this will result in the pads being applied to the rotor constantly, causing premature wear.
The above answers are right, as far as the rotors may be warped/scored, need to lube the slide pins, BUT also one thing that most people overlook or dont know. New brake pads need to be “broke in” If they arent broke in, a lot of times you get the excessive wear or rotor problems/noise. They will glaze over. They need to be babied for about 20 to 40 miles, light easy slowing with letting off and then slowing again, after that you need to get on a highway where theres not too much traffic and get up to about 60 then quickly slow down to about 35-40 about 5 times letting them cool for about 30 seconds between each time. Then from 60 to a dead stop quickly about 5 times letting them cool for about a minute each time. Then they should be broke in and be good to go for a long time. You’ll need to have your rotors turned or replaced and a new set of pads, if you got the best set they had, then you should have a lifetime warranty on them. If the rotors arent really bad, then having them turned should be around $25 (thats what it cost last time I had them done, may be more or less where you are) —Also the person that said to rebleed the brakes, That is a good idea, and start from the furthest wheel from the master cylinder and work your way to the closest,even if you didnt take the back ones loose, you may also have to bleed the Anti Lock brake pump. some do some dont.
Its not about the “best” pads, meaning the most $ it is the material. Some are metallic, some are ceramic. Some are softer material than others. Softer material brakes will wear faster than semi metallic.
I agree with all the above. Brakes that are crazed due to excessive braking, panic stops, or just plain riding the brake, can crumble. Rotors need to be turned to give a nice smooth, parallel surface for brakes. Also, rotors that are too thin do not dissipate heat very well and this can cause early failure of brake pads. A rotor that wobbles back and forth will push a caliper piston back in while you apply the brakes giving you a pulsating pedal.
I agree with none of the above answers.
Are the pads evenly worn on both sides of that axle? If not – if one wheel is experiencing substantially more wear than the other then you have a sticking brake caliper. If both are about evenly worn possibly you have two sticking calipers. Improper installation or heavy use are really the only other likely culprits.
I have installed many hundreds of Carquest Blue and Gold box pads and use them myself. They are extremely high quality. Its not the pads that are the problem.
The next time you should replace the brake calpiers .along with the routers. both sides and try to get cerimac pads .it cost a lot more .but the are worth every penny