weird brake problem, somebody help me figure this out - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

cdlong · 08-28-2003, 07:13 PM

ok, i'm redoing my brakes and i've got a problem in the rear. here's what i've done so far. new hawk HPS pads, brembo rotors, new calipers from autozone (brackets not included). the sliders are all fine and the slide shims were in good shape.

here's the problem. the outer pad isn't making full contact with the rotor. the outer portion of the pad is the only part making contact with the rotor, only about 1/2". the inner part isn't touching at all. i know this is the case because the pad is only wearing at the top and the inner part of the rotor still has spots on it from the brake cleaner. the problem is happening on both sides, though much more pronounced on the driver's side. i made some pictures to help explain it.

the red part is where the pad makes contact with the rotor.

my first thought, i installed the pads wrong, inside on the outside, etc. called hawk, not the case. next i thought the shim was causing the pad to shift because it doesn't go the full length of the caliper fingers. pulled the shim off, no change. called a mechanic hawk suggested, he said the old bracket could have been ovalized over the years. that's the only possible thing i can think of right now. though i don't think this is the case because the inner pad is wearing slightly more on the top than the bottom. if it were ovalized the inner pad would be wearing more on the bottom.

anybody got any ideas or experience with a similar problem? i'm lost. thanks

08-28-2003, 07:13 PM	#1
cdlong Nissanaholic! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Colorado Springs Age: 44 Posts: 1,865 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: cdlong Feedback Score: 0 reviews	weird brake problem, somebody help me figure this out ok, i'm redoing my brakes and i've got a problem in the rear. here's what i've done so far. new hawk HPS pads, brembo rotors, new calipers from autozone (brackets not included). the sliders are all fine and the slide shims were in good shape. here's the problem. the outer pad isn't making full contact with the rotor. the outer portion of the pad is the only part making contact with the rotor, only about 1/2". the inner part isn't touching at all. i know this is the case because the pad is only wearing at the top and the inner part of the rotor still has spots on it from the brake cleaner. the problem is happening on both sides, though much more pronounced on the driver's side. i made some pictures to help explain it. the red part is where the pad makes contact with the rotor. my first thought, i installed the pads wrong, inside on the outside, etc. called hawk, not the case. next i thought the shim was causing the pad to shift because it doesn't go the full length of the caliper fingers. pulled the shim off, no change. called a mechanic hawk suggested, he said the old bracket could have been ovalized over the years. that's the only possible thing i can think of right now. though i don't think this is the case because the inner pad is wearing slightly more on the top than the bottom. if it were ovalized the inner pad would be wearing more on the bottom. anybody got any ideas or experience with a similar problem? i'm lost. thanks __________________ Last edited by cdlong; 08-28-2003 at 07:16 PM..