What is the cause of uneven braking?

Uneven brake pad wear most commonly occurs as a result of caliper failure. The caliper contains a piston that presses on the brake pads to stop the vehicle. When the driver releases the brake pedal, a seal inside the caliper pulls the piston away from the pad.

How do I reset my brake caliper pistons?

The easiest way is with the brake pads in situ. Simply push a flat blade screwdriver in between the brake pads and twist. This will separate the brake pads and, in turn, push back the pistons to the reset position.

Can you push a brake piston out too far?

YES YOU CAN! A big C clamp works perfectly and I have had to use on a friends Mini it when one of the special tools failed to fit because the piston was just too far out. OK, the C-clamp does spin the piston on it’s own while compressing it.

What is a misaligned caliper?

Over time, a caliper may come out of alignment. If the issue grows severe enough, one of the brake pads may remain in contact with the rotor surface at all times. Numerous factors may play into caliper misalignment. The problem often occurs as the result of a collision.

Why does my car pull to one side when I brake?

Worn or warped rotors: Worn or warped rotors can cause the vehicle to vibrate when the brakes are applied and in some cases the car will pull to one side when braking. Rotors can be warped due to stress from towing, hilly terrain, or other situations that put stress on your braking system.

How do you push brake pistons back in?

To successfully push back the rear caliper brake piston, you will need a simple tool such as a plier or a screwdriver. You need to twist the piston clockwise; clockwise will spin the piston inward into the housing itself inside the caliper, and then you will be able to change your brake pads.

Why is my caliper rubbing my rotor?

Pad/rotor rub is the main symptom of a misaligned caliper. However pad/rotor rub can also caused by an improperly seated wheel. Make sure your wheel is seated properly.

What causes brake pads to wear more on one side than the other?

Apparently, the most common cause of brake pads wearing down unevenly on one side is often when there is a discrepancy in the disc thickness on the brake pad. Even the smallest variation in thickness can cause the wearing on one side faster than on the other.