Help with rear calipers sticking

[300sx]

A couple years ago my rears were smoking as I got of the freeway so I paniced and drove it into Les Schwabs a couple minutes later. Guy told me it was my calipers so I went ahead and had them replace rear calipers and rotors costing me $400. After driving about 8k miles i noticed my brake pads werent even. Rear passenger side was nearly gone and the driver side still had a lot of life on them. I took it into Les Schwabs again to have it replaced (still under warranty) so they replaced the passenger side caliper and resurfaced my rotors. Now its out of warranty so I can't take it back to replace it. I have replaced the pads just a couple months ago now the rear passenger side is still wearing out faster than my other 3 pads. I have flushed the brake system out.

Can someone tell me what the hell is going on? Is it the calipers? or did Les Schwab not put the calipers in correctly? I don't recall having uneven pad wear before I took it into them. I have had the car 2 years prior and have done one pad replacement.

Even my front pads are still meaty as hell and they've been on the car for about a year (upgraded to z32 fronts)

Any help would be appreciated

[sx moneypit]

Sounds like your brake hose is collapsed causing the piston in the caliper to not release.

[vancouverbc]

A couple years ago my rears were smoking as I got of the freeway so I paniced and drove it into Les Schwabs a couple minutes later. Guy told me it was my calipers so I went ahead and had them replace rear calipers and rotors costing me $400. After driving about 8k miles i noticed my brake pads werent even. Rear passenger side was nearly gone and the driver side still had a lot of life on them. I took it into Les Schwabs again to have it replaced (still under warranty) so they replaced the passenger side caliper and resurfaced my rotors. Now its out of warranty so I can't take it back to replace it. I have replaced the pads just a couple months ago now the rear passenger side is still wearing out faster than my other 3 pads. I have flushed the brake system out.

Can someone tell me what the hell is going on? Is it the calipers? or did Les Schwab not put the calipers in correctly? I don't recall having uneven pad wear before I took it into them. I have had the car 2 years prior and have done one pad replacement.

Even my front pads are still meaty as hell and they've been on the car for about a year (upgraded to z32 fronts)

Any help would be appreciated

Its your pins in the caliper bracket. they need to be regularly greased. replacing caliper does nothing. you will destroy your caliper though if you dont grease the pins.

These were my pins before lubrication. Caused uneven braking and ruined two calipers. the uneven pressure destroys the caliper seal. look at rust pattern on piston head to see where it is not touching pad.


Modified by vancouverbc at 4:23 PM 1/13/2010

[300sx]

Thanks guys..I will grease pins next week when i change pads

[sx moneypit]

You would think that the Tech that replaced the calipers would have greased the pins.I am not saying they are not corroded,but it usually takes years before it happens unless you live in the rust belt states.I think it would be a good idea to replace the hoses anyway to be on the safe side considering the age of the car.

[300sx]

Yeah i might as well replace the rear lines since i will be getting new rotors on all for ends and pads

[seang]

I live in rust belt Michigan, and I have to check the the slides quite frequently. I can check the lower caliper slides on the front without having to take off the wheels.

I only have front calipers, but the pins (especially the lowers) get hit so bad with weather, that it's only a matter of time until they get clogged.

I use synthetic caliper lube, and not wheel bearing grease, to lube the slides. Don't skimp, put enough grease on them to help seal out moisture.

[vancouverbc]

Mine never rusted or became clogged. They moved freely so I never thought they were a problem. They need to well greased to move properly. I took my uneven braking problem to mechanic 2 times and got new calipers twice.