Brake Calipers bad or just pads?

Tiny
DGONCALVES
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 FORD EXPLORER
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 117,000 MILES
My brakes seem to be fine when I step on them. Today I noticed whistling noise, so I looked at rear wheel and rotors had deep grooves in them. Pads are all gone, literally metal on metal. The other side has a good 1/4 or so of pad left. Shouldn't pads wear more or less the same on each side? Is this definitely the caliper or could it just be pads?
Wednesday, March 21st, 2012 AT 4:03 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 34,330 POSTS
Just got off the phone with a former student who brought up "another" Ford torn apart on his hoist for grinding rear disc brakes. The cause is a leaking axle seal. The grease gets onto the inner pad and eats it away.
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Wednesday, March 21st, 2012 AT 10:45 PM
Tiny
DGONCALVES
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
Okay, the metal plate that clips the pad on is resting right against the router causing grinding. I am trying to figure out if it needs the caliper replaced.
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Friday, March 23rd, 2012 AT 5:25 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 34,330 POSTS
Nothing wrong with the caliper. Check for signs of a leaking axle seal.
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Friday, March 23rd, 2012 AT 5:36 PM

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