15 replies to this topic

[Jeff Wasilko]

The front right pads on my car have always worn at a bit of an angle. I've been rotating the pads (swapping inner and outer) and that got me a bit more life.

 

Recently, they've started wearing at a much steeper angle and rate. One of the sets below only has 250 track miles (about 5 hours running according to the data logger).

 

The car took a small hit to the FR fender that bent the tie rod and cut the tire. After the hit, the inner/outer tie rod and hub were replaced. The car aligned to specs after.

 

The other set below had about 150-200 miles on it (need to check my data to get a more solid number). I took the pads out and swapped in a new set, and also replaced both slider pins on the caliper. I didn't get a chance to pull a wheel today and see if they were wearing better.

 

Any thoughts on what might be causing the problem?

 

Thanks!

 

[Ron Alan]

Looks pretty normal to me...unless we have the same problem  Have always had the lower portion of the pad wear more than the top...especially on the inner pad. I just always assumed it had something to do with how force is applied via all the components. With heavy pressure I'm pretty sure all the cast metal parts flex also. I never worry...the car stops fine and pads and rotors get replaced!

[tom1977]

Single piston sliding calipers don't usually wear the pads dead even.  If the angle is getting worse in time, I wonder if this would indicate a worn bearing?

[Brian129]

Single piston sliding calipers don't usually wear the pads dead even.  If the angle is getting worse in time, I wonder if this would indicate a worn bearing?

 

or worn or sticky sliding pins

 

maybe a bent caliper bracket? 

[Jeff Wasilko]

I was thinking of ordering a new caliper bracket, since lots of other stuff has been replaced.

[Jeff Wasilko]

Single piston sliding calipers don't usually wear the pads dead even.  If the angle is getting worse in time, I wonder if this would indicate a worn bearing?

Bearing was replaced right after the impact.

[Keith Novak]

Are you using the springs and clips and changing them frequently?  Are you filing the sharp edges where the pads slide in the bracket?  How old are the calipers.

 

Mine wore like that all the time but now they don't.  The calipers, fresh hardware, and pad prep is all I changed.

[Jeff Wasilko]

Are you using the springs and clips and changing them frequently?  Are you filing the sharp edges where the pads slide in the bracket?  How old are the calipers.

 

Mine wore like that all the time but now they don't.  The calipers, fresh hardware, and pad prep is all I changed.

Calipers were new rebuilds at the start of the season. I do use the spring clips, and they were replaced within a month or so. I'm not filing off the edges of the pads. Good suggestion.

[Stelvio]

I have new blue printed bearings and calipers, as well as new rotors and a new pad I'm trying - Pagid.  Same issue for me for every type of pad, caliper and rotor I've used.  Even my Audi S4 pads wore at a slight angle.  If it's not normal I've gone a long way to find out I have an issue ;-)

[Bench Racer]

Some interesting reading within this thread.     I'm sure these folks have much better calipers than the OEM Miata calipers. The flexable flyer OEM calipers we use will exasperate what this thread is talking about.

 

http://www.apexspeed...ead.php?t=22321

[SaulSpeedwell]

Jeff, What do the clips look like at this point?  Are they "dimpled" where the pad backing plate is being slammed into it?  Filing/chamfering the backing plates is a good idea, and even LIGHTLY greasing the clips.

 

Also, the caliper bracket carries the female bushings that receive the caliper pins - finding "good" brackets was getting harder the last time I tried.

 

Having said that, I've seen much worse tapered wear!

[Jeff Wasilko]

Saul: the car's at the shop now. When I get it back, I'll take some pix.

When I looked at it last, the upper outer clip had contacted the rotor and had worn off the retention clip that's supposed to hold it in place. The clip was 'blued' from heating.

 

Do you know if the new carriers from Mazda are 'good'?

[Keith Novak]

Jeff, What do the clips look like at this point?  Are they "dimpled" where the pad backing plate is being slammed into it?  Filing/chamfering the backing plates is a good idea, and even LIGHTLY greasing the clips.

 

Also, the caliper bracket carries the female bushings that receive the caliper pins - finding "good" brackets was getting harder the last time I tried.

 

Having said that, I've seen much worse tapered wear!

Those dimples in the clips are why I say "change often".  You can buy a lot of clips for the price of a front set of pads.

[AW33COM]

Bend spindle would also throw everything off. 

 

I purchased a Miata with the exact problem (hit to the wheel), and the pads were not sitting correctly.  There is a way to check if anything is bend, by simply removing the caliper, but putting the bracket and the rotor back on.  Then you look from the top, or you measure and see if the rotor is inline with the rest.  You can also compare right to left, and check if all distances match.  That will rule out the bracket and the spindle at least. 

[SaulSpeedwell]

Those dimples in the clips are why I say "change often".  You can buy a lot of clips for the price of a front set of pads.

 

Agreed.  You can flip the dimpled ones to the trailing side, too. 

[SaulSpeedwell]

Saul: the car's at the shop now. When I get it back, I'll take some pix.

When I looked at it last, the upper outer clip had contacted the rotor and had worn off the retention clip that's supposed to hold it in place. The clip was 'blued' from heating.

 

Do you know if the new carriers from Mazda are 'good'?

 

Keeping up with what the "new" Mazda parts actually are for each gen of car is a fulltime job.  The old original "new" ones were great.  I haven't seen enough of the recent current production to know one way or the other.