28000 miles ago I installed R1concepts Eline BREMBO drilled and slotted rotors on all 4 corners paired with PBR Deluxe pads in the front and Posi-Quiet semi-metallic pads in the rear.

Recently, I began hearing grinding noises coming from the front brakes, so I took off the front rotors to inspect and this is what I saw. The inside pad on both the front brakes were completely toast, to the point where the passenger side pad had completely disintegrated and now there was metal on metal contact on the rotor. However, the outside pad on both front brakes still had plenty of life left. I guess I didnt notice to problem earlier because the noise tab is on the outside pad rather than the inside pad. Here are some pics of the front rotor and pads:





In comparison, the rear Posi-Quiet pads had even ware and both the rear pads and rotors had plenty of life left. Here are some pics of the rear rotor and pads:




Now, my main question is whether such uneven ware between inside and outside pads is common or whether there is a problem with the front calipers' pistons. I was thinking that there might be a problem with the calipers but then again I was able to push the pistons back into the caliper with my hands without too too much effort, so there wasnt any real seizing. Also, I thought this is just common because what is the chance that the inside pistons on both front calipers would go bad at the same time.

I also hope PBR and R1concepts with see this post and address some of the issues with their products. The PBR pads were complete garbage while the rotors did nothing to vent brake dust away. As can be seen in the pics, many of the drill holes and slots were filled with compressed brake dust.

Update:

After I originally posted this thread I was contacted by R1 Concepts to address the issue. Although my rotors were 3 years / 25k old, R1 Concepts took the extra step in customer service to ship me a complimentary set of new rotors. This is by far the best customer service I have gotten from a parts company so far. The superb customer service at R1 Concepts means I will be recommending them again in the future.

 

Get new front calipers, rotors, and pads. IMO your old calipers are toast. Canada winters?

 

why do you think the front calipers are toast? they seem to move freely without any seizing.

If there was something wrong with the calipers then new ones would be unnecessary anyways, all I would need is the rebuild kit.

 

I put 300zx iron calipers on my 240. Wore one of my pads the same way i puled them off and found that one of the inner piston was very stiff. Yeah the Z setup is 4 piston vs the G setup a little different.

I say get new calipers because I have always had better luck turning in the old ones as cores to the auto parts store and getting a remanded set. I was thinking new calipers based on how haggard those rotors looked.


Rebuilding would be cheaper, not sure what your budget is. Re-manned calipers, new rotors and new pads would be a job done right.

 

I have brembos, it's not that easy or cheap to just swap calipers at the autoparts store

 

Roger that, 4 piston like the z, split those things open and rebuild them then, dont forget to lube.

 

anyone have any experience with this? Im still not particularly persuaded by Herbbie Hablib's reasoning considering my caliper pistons are not seized/stiff

 

Could be the piston isnt pushing on the pad evenly cause the shim

 

but there are shims on both the inner and outer pads

 

Just glancing at the piston mark on the pad, you need new pads and rotors, might as well clean up and rebuild them. From what im thinking there is nothing else it could be. Maybe go with better quality stuff this time.

 

so I've done a bit more research and it seems like others have also had the problem of inner pads wearing out faster than outer pads. Stuck pistons doesnt seem to have been the problem in those instances.

http://www.350z-uk.com/topic/73788-h...an-outer-pads/

http://my350z.com/forum/brakes-and-s...wear-ouch.html

http://my350z.com/forum/brakes-and-s...uter-pads.html

 

If your inner pads are wearing much more than your outers it's due to the piston in the caliper not fully retracting when you let off the pedal. Therefore there's force on the inner pad when it is not needed...replace your calipers

 

Update:

After I originally posted this thread I was contacted by R1 Concepts to address the issue. Although my rotors were 3 years / 25k old, R1 Concepts took the extra step in customer service to ship me a complimentary set of new rotors. This is by far the best customer service I have gotten from a parts company so far. The superb customer service at R1 Concepts means I will be recommending them again in the future.