What is the metal piece on brake pads?
Those thin pieces of metal are called WITHDIG’s or for the un-initiated “Where In The Heck Did It Go’s” since they seen to regularly get lost when replacing the brake pads.
What causes inside brake pads to wear unevenly?
If you notice that one pad has worn down a considerable amount more than another pad, then you have uneven brake pad wear. Variation in the thickness of your rotors chew away at the brake pad as they come in contact with flat spots in the disc, causing the pad to wear unevenly.
How important are metal clips on brake pads?
These clips can increase fuel economy while eliminating brake noise. This can keep the brakes cooler, reduce noise and extend the life of the pad. The clips fit between the pads and rotor and push the pads away from the rotor. These clips have more spring, while not preventing the movement of the caliper’s piston.
What happens when brake pads wear down?
You can damage the brake rotors and calipers. For example, when your brake pads wear down past a certain point, you can risk damaging the brake rotors. Additionally, the heat generated from the metal-on-metal grinding that happens when worn pads squeeze the rotor can also warp and crack the rotor.
Do you need the metal plate on brake pads?
Brake Shims and Brake Lube. Brake shims are thin metal or rubber adhesive pads that fit between the brake pad and the brake caliper to correct small differences that sometimes lead to noise. Not all brake pads come with shims as they aren’t required and function perfectly without needing them.
What is an anti rattle clip?
Anti-rattle clips prevent brake pads from being loose in the caliper. This helps to reduce accelerated brake pad wear from unwanted pad contact with brake rotors. It also improves the safety and performance of your vehicle.
Is it normal for rear brake pads to wear out?
This is normal in some cases. The reason for this wear is because the rear brakes are used to control nose dive. If the wear is greater than expected, check for TSBs. Often, the OEM will issue new software for the hydraulic control module that solves the problem.
What does it mean when your brake pads are tapered?
This type of wear pattern is a sure sign of a worn seal, damage to the caliper, or corrosion from exposure to wet conditions. As with the excessive wear to the outer brake pad, replacing the caliper and brake pad represents the easiest way to fix this kind of wear. Step 4: Know the signs of tapered pad wear.
What causes the inner brake pads to wear faster than the outer?
Inboard brake pad wear is the most common brake pad wear pattern. On a floating caliper brake system, it is normal for the inner to wear faster than the outer – but this difference should only be 2-3mm. More rapid inner pad wear can be caused by a seized caliper guide pin or slides.
What’s the difference between the left and right brake pads?
The left pad is the outside pad and the right pad is the inside. I assumed there would be a little more wear on the inside but not this much difference. The OEM brakes that I replaced were not this uneven.