Disc Brake wear on one side

[DaveK75]

My wifes 93 camry recently started making serious and loud screeching sounds. I determined it was the Drivers rear wheel and sure enough, the brake pads (disc brakes) were worn down to nothing. I replaced the pads and installed a new rotor assuming it was beyond thickness specs. It seemed to eliminate the noise no problem.

When I did the other side, the brake pads seemed to be as thick as the new ones. WHY IS THERE SEVERE WEAR ON ONE SIDE AND NOT THE OTHER?????

If this is a caliper issue, please share any advice on repair or process to fix.

Can I drive the car now that both wheels have new brakes for the time being?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[BMR]

My first guess would be that the passenger side caliper's piston is froze up. They can usually be rebuilt by purchasing a kit, but if you're not comfortable doing that I'd say replace it. And if it was mine I'd replace both of them so you don't get unequal braking, left Vs right.

Can you drive it?... I wouldn't. In an emergency braking situation, the unequal braking could put the car in a spin.

[DaveK75]

I should have mentioned when I had the passenger side caliper off, I pushed the piston back into the caliper to allow for the new pads to be isntalled. While the caliper was off, I pressed the brake pedal and the piston seemed to work and was moving outwards.

This is why I was wondering if the drivers side caliper was stuck. I didn't take it off to try the same test. I am going to look into replacing or rebuilding the calipers.

I agree with you that brakes should always be done on both sides and not one or the other.

[new echo owner]

Make sure the pins are sliding freely, the piston can be free, but if the pins are sticking, the pads will still wear unevenly, since the caliper is not allow to return fully.

N.E.O.

[zoni]

a big C clamp is always your friend when working on the brakes... you can use it to press the piston back in.

for the one that doesnt seem to be working, make sure the fluid is coming to the caliper by doing a bleeding procedure. if not, your regulator is at fault.

as far as the brake not working when you push the pedal with the caliper off, do it with the car started. the brake booster needs to be working to actually produce results in my opinion...

[frenum49]

Don't forget, this could also be a collapsed break lining in the flexible rubber part of the line.

[BUNNYz]

I don't think it is your caliper problem, take the 2 pins out and lube it. Most likely your pins are binding, that is why your brake pads didn't worn out evenly.

[BMR]

I think the OP said both pads on the passenger side caliper were thick as new. If the caliper was sticking on the pins, the outer pad (away from the piston) would wear less, not both of them.

I agree with Frenum's suggestion as another good possibility.