Brakes Wheels 2nd Gen Tires Detroit Tuned 17" BBK Pad Wear

Discussion in '2nd Generation: 2007+ R55 through R61' started by countryboyshane, Aug 11, 2012.

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  1. countryboyshane

    countryboyshane New Member

    Jul 23, 2009
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    #1 countryboyshane, Aug 11, 2012
    Hello everyone,

    I started taking my Outlaw calipers off today in preparation for a caliper seal rejuvenation, and one thing came to mind that I've never really came to ease with. The last day I was at the track, I was down to my last 25% of pad material and I've always noticed that the part of the pad that gets worn away more is the top edge. So after a while, the pad side profile almost looks like a wedge instead of being perfectly rectangular.

    I think I understand what's going on here. As the car is moving forward and the brakes are applied, the pad & pistons are dragged downward. When the brakes are not being applied the face of the pistons are parallel to the face of the rotor and pad, but as the brakes are applied it gets dragged downward causing more wear on the top.

    As we wrapped up and headed home, I noticed that the upper piston on each side of the rotor were stuck in the bores. I believe this was due to how little pad material I had left, how far the pistons were protruding out of the calipers, and that they were getting forced downward. I free'd them up, but still I'm not to at ease with this behavior. I worry that the stainless steel piston will start to gouge the inside of the aluminum caliper over time.

    Is anybody else experiencing this running a big brake kit (BBK) on a R56 or R53?

    My calipers are perfectly on center with my rotors. Is this normal or am I correct with my logic?

    I've noticed that Wilwood sells brake pad shims that would prevent the pistons from protruding so far, but Outlaw does not. I can make my own, but it shows that perhaps Wilwood has thought this out. I've even seen some Lotus folks use this method on their brakes. What does everyone think?
     
  2. Jason Montague

    Jason Montague New Member
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    #2 Jason Montague, Aug 11, 2012
    :cornut: My Margi(08 R56 MCS/JCWm whose brakes are the same as Gen 1 JCW brakes) wear exactly as what you describe on your car. Margi is very spirited street and does not(legally:lol:) race. Me, I think that your pads are wearing normally but, much more knowledgeble gear heads will be along shortly.:Thumbsup:

    Jason
     
  3. countryboyshane

    countryboyshane New Member

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    #3 countryboyshane, Aug 11, 2012
    Someone told me the 16" kit didn't do it as bad, but after I thought about it a while, the same principles are at work and I kind of dismissed their experience.
     
  4. beaner

    beaner New Member

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    #4 beaner, Aug 11, 2012
    it is called "pad taper". if you insert a spacer (i.e. an old backing plate with the pad material removed and plate flattened) as you pad gets smaller, it will minimize, but not totally eliminate this issue.

    Todd (TCE) explained the physics to me, but i have a short attention span. i just added spacers as suggested, and got more even pad wear.
     
  5. UKCoopeR

    UKCoopeR Active Member

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    #5 UKCoopeR, Aug 11, 2012
    I experience similar pad wear with my tce kit, nothing to worry about, I use the pad spacers and 'flip' the pads every event or two to even it out, some of the higher temp pads will do it slightly less but it is a common type of wear from what I have seen across many cars in the paddock etc
     
  6. goaljnky

    goaljnky New Member

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    #6 goaljnky, Aug 11, 2012
    I'm going to say that this behavior has to do more with the fact that per rotation more of the rotor area scrubs the outer/top edge of the pad then inner.
     
  7. countryboyshane

    countryboyshane New Member

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    #7 countryboyshane, Aug 12, 2012
    Good to hear I'm not alone in this!
     

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