Rear Pads Not Contacting Rotor Fully

Last fall I replaced my brakes with Centric rotors and EBC redstuff pads. Since some of my calipers boots were cracked I also replaced all the calipers with centric rebuilds.

 

Fast forward a couple months and I noticed that my rear brakes were not wearing evenly, and I am only using 50% of the rotor surface. Any ideas on what to do?

did you bed the pads in properly after install?

Yes. I underwent the number of described panic stops to bed the pads in. Everything looked good for the first few months, but after that things started to deteriorate.

Is this at both rear wheels or just this one particular wheel?

Both rear wheels. My previous rotors were the same way, but since I installed everything new this time around I thought I would be all set.

did you replace caliper hardware? if the pads are sticking they will do that

Yep. Purchased all new calipers and came with new hardware/slides.

rebleed brakes more thoroughly

I used my Motive bleeder and I made sure there wasn't any air in the lines. Would air in the lines cause this?

air would not cause that

hmm is it possible that, during initial bedding that the pad material was unevenly transferred? Have you also re-bedded the pads?

 

If not, i'd recommend removing them, rub them on the asphalt/concrete a bit to level/smooth them out and put them back in.

I was doing some WOT logging this week along with some heavy braking and I noticed the rear rotors look much better now.

 

I do mostly highway driving with very little braking. It seems like I need more brake balance to the rear to keep the rotors clean. Thoughts?

Any ideas? Would it be better to go with a softer more grabby pads in the rear?

Suggestions? Is anyone else having the same issue?

How are your wheel bearings back there? It would be pretty unlikely but if they have a lot of slop they could cause uneven pad wear. Just another thing to consider

Looks like a stuck piston

How are your wheel bearings back there? It would be pretty unlikely but if they have a lot of slop they could cause uneven pad wear. Just another thing to consider

 

The dealer replaced the rear wheel bearings under warranty about two months after I did the brake job. I don't suspect that both rear brakes calipers are shot as they have less than 3K miles on them.

Were the slider pins lubed up alright?

Now that I think of it I don't think I did. It had some factory grease, but I didn't check it thoroughly.

While the wagon was getting its inspection sticker at the dealer, the lead tech who I know mentioned the brake issue was caused from the car sitting and the rust not being evenly removed from the rotor. He said I would either need new rotors or to have them turned.

 

I didn't think this sounded right. I never had a car which sat for two weeks and then need new brakes. Would a softer pad prevent this from happening in the future?