Rear brake eating pads quick

trogoth · Jul 9, 2013

I've had a problem with the passenger rear brake pads on my 01 cobra since I got it a few months ago.

At first it was grinding, so I replaced the pads, it still was heating, so I assumed the caliper was seized and I replaced that. Now just a month later, those pads are down to metal already. Probably around 1k miles, and they're grinding again.

I can't think of what could be the cause. Any ideas?

cobraracer46 · Jul 9, 2013

Could be a bad hose.

RichV · Jul 9, 2013

Is it just the one side? Or both rears?

rz5.0 · Jul 9, 2013

Seized pins..

trogoth · Jul 9, 2013

cobraracer46 said:
Could be a bad hose.

I'll check the hoses out tomorrow, didn't think of that.

RichV said:
Is it just the one side? Or both rears?

Just the passenger side.

rz5.0 said:
Seized pins..

Would that be part of the caliper? Because I replaced the whole caliper already.

1997GT4.6 · Jul 10, 2013

This may sound stupid but did you rotate the piston in with the special tool? If that is not in all the way it might have your brake pads constantly making contact with the rotor.

rz5.0 · Jul 10, 2013

The slider pins hold the caliper in place with the bolts.. They have lil rubber boots on them.. Pull then out and grease them with caliper grease..

RichV · Jul 10, 2013

Does it pull to one side? Or lockup on the rear?

Sounds like you may have a rear not working at all, and the other side is doing all the braking. Go for a drive, make sure it's a drive with a lot of stop/go driving. Then stop and with a laser thermometer measure temperatures of the rear disks. The side that wears down faster should be getting hotter. Take note of the cool side as well, is it even working? That may be the side with the problem.

Paul · Jul 10, 2013

Do you have a sticking parking brake?

Ninety8stang · Jul 10, 2013

Im thinking a bad hose. If its kinked inside it wont allow the piston to fully retract.

trogoth · Jul 11, 2013

I took it to the shop to have them look at it. Apparently the CV boot on the drivers side rear fell off and flung grease around. They said that most likely got all over the brake lines and made them swell, forcing all the braking to the passenger side. They quoted me 1700 to fix it all lol. I think I'll be doing this one myself.

RichV · Jul 11, 2013

:confused1: Don't go to that shop ... ever.

1997GT4.6 · Jul 11, 2013

$1700 to change brake lines? CV boot on the drivers side rear?

Musturd · Jul 11, 2013

Wtf yea don't go back there that's a cheap and easy repair

rz5.0 · Jul 11, 2013

CV boot? Grease making a line swell?

1997GT4.6 · Jul 12, 2013

rz5.0 said:
CV boot? Grease making a line swell?

I was also like CV boot what the F*** were they smoking, then I realized he's got an 01 Cobra with IRS so he does have a cv boot in the rear haha. Now it all makes sense.

rz5.0 · Jul 12, 2013

Ha.. /\/\/\ got it.. I'm slow.. I can see a hose been the issue but not from grease..

Ninety8stang · Jul 12, 2013

Just replace the hose. It's probably like $10-15 from your local part store. I'm sure it will take care of it. As for your cv boot causing brake failure... I want what ever those guys at that shop were smoking because that sounds like some pretty good stuff. Haha