UNEVEN PAD WEAR. A sure sign of caliper trouble. If the inner or outer pad shows significantly more wear than its companion, it tells you a floating caliper is sticking on its bushings or mount, or a caliper piston is sticking causing one of the pads to drag. Inspect the caliper mounts and bushings for rust and corrosion, and replace the caliper mounting hardware if it is in less-than-perfect condition. Also, be sure to lubricate the caliper mounts and bushings with high-temperature brake lubricant so the caliper can center itself over the rotor.
TAPER WEAR ON PADS. If the pads show more wear on one end than the other, or on the top or bottom edge, the caliper may be cocked or loose, the old pads may have been incorrectly installed, or the suspension may have a bent spindle causing misalignment between the rotor and pads. Check the alignment of the caliper. If the pads are not parallel to the rotor, the caliper mount is bent and must be replaced. If the pads are not perpendicular to the spindle, the mount or spindle may be bent.

If taper wear is noticed on a rear inner pad and the rear calipers have self-adjusting pistons, the pin that prevent...

Brake fade is something nobody wants to experience. When you step down on the brake pedal with a certain amount of force, the vehicle should slow predictably. But when the brakes get too hot and start to fade, it takes more and more pedal effort to get the same amount of braking force. Eventually the point is reached where the vehicle won't stop no matter how hard you stand on the brakes - and the results can be disastrous.

The brakes on most vehicles that are driven normally in everyday traffic never get hot enough to experience brake fade. But when driving down a steep mountain, prolonged braking may cause the brakes to overheat and fade (which is why drivers should never "ride" the brakes and should pull over so the brakes can cool if they start to feel any significant fade).

The brakes may also overheat and fade if the pads or shoes are dragging because of a mechanical or hydraulic problem in the brake system. The constant friction builds up heat and can increase the risk of brake fade when the driver steps on the pedal.

Brake fade also occurs on the racetrack. The combination of high speeds and heavy braking can push brake temperatures to the limit. If a racecar is equipped with pads that can't take the heat, or rotors that can't provide adequate cooling, the driver will probably find himself in serious trouble long before he ever sees the checkered flag.

HEAT MANAGEMENT
The basic purpose of any brake sys...