Last summer I replaced the axles, bearings, and seals. While I was at it, I swapped in new rotors (AC Delco) and pads (Hawks), front and rear. Formerly, the pads swept the rotor faces clean. Currently, the driver's side rear is developing a light rust ring where apparently the pad isn't touching and should, both on the inside/outside faces toward the hub. Thinking the problem was mechanical, I removed the caliper and made sure that the slide pins were in good shape and thoroughly lubed. No difference. For the above to happen, the pads would have to be canted somewhat like this / \ on either side of the rotor. If all is good mechanically, could the rotor itself be the problem, and instead of being parallel, be shaped more like this \ /? Maybe that's as clear as mud. Anything else to consider?

JamesC

 

Dude, u-da-man for brakes on this board, so this is a test right?

Short of taking the rotors to a good shop for a true-up cut,
can you measure the components with good calipers?

Eventually the pads will wear down to contour with the rotors,
but thats the lazy way out, right?

kk

 

Pictures would help a ton....

Personally I think I might take it up to speed and stand hard panic style on the brakes a couple times just to see what happens, mist em' down with water, let em rust over, then do it again.

Now sure what that would accomplish...but that's just me.

 

I think you have me confused with Ed Miller .

JamesC

 

Cast iron saginaw rears, right? You have to set it pretty close when installing so that the emergency brake can keep it adjusted tight.

Have you installed the recall kit?

 

No, I did a PBR conversion several years ago. I should have noted that in my original post.

JamesC

 

Im still having the same problem with my rear calipers James. The pads are only cleaning the outside edge. The more i drive it however the better it gets. And i know that the calipers are not seized up so i think its just a matter of everything breaking in with eachother..or at least i hope it is.

 

Well, what will happen is that your pad will wear heavily where it's touching first, then over time it will begin to form itself to the angle of the rotor, assuming the rotor is what's not parallel. So yea, over time it will get better looking, but nothing has actually been fixed, and you will get uneven wear on the pads that should be visible.

 

If the issue is with the rotor and its tolerances, I'm annoyed--I purchased AC Delco because I thought the company would offer a better product than other brands. That said, the ring isn't terrible and I suggest it'll wear out, but unfortunately I'm **** enough to be irritated.

JamesC

 

Yea im **** too about it and this pissed me off for a bit. But granted i have barely 300 miles on all the new brake parts and now they are starting to wear in to eachother pretty well. You would think though that AC delcos would just wear evenely to begin with.