1993–2002 · MODIFIED BRAKES · PAD WEAR
Pad Taper or Uneven Wear After a Brake Upgrade
Diagnose tapered or uneven pad wear after a caliper/rotor conversion by separating bracket alignment, caliper movement, rotor position and hydraulic drag.
APPLICATION: 1993–2002 F-body with non-stock calipers, brackets, rotors or hubs.
MODIFIED-CAR / AFTERMARKET EVIDENCE · VERIFY INSTALLED HARDWARE
1 · RECORD THE WEAR PATTERN
- Compare inner/outer pads and leading/trailing pad thickness before disassembly. The pattern helps separate drag, alignment and caliper-movement faults.
2 · VERIFY ROTOR / CALIPER ALIGNMENT
- Inspect bracket seating, fasteners, hub/rotor run position and whether the caliper sits square over the rotor. Physical bolt-on does not prove alignment.
3 · CHECK CALIPER MOVEMENT
- For sliding designs, prove guides/slides move and return correctly. For fixed calipers, verify the rotor is centered per the kit instructions and pistons/pads are not binding.
4 · RULE OUT TRAPPED PRESSURE
- If wear accompanies heat or drag, follow the hydraulic-pressure versus mechanical-bind path before replacing pads again.
DO NOT REPLACE YET
Do not treat uneven pad wear as a pad-brand problem until bracket alignment, caliper movement, rotor position and residual drag are proven.
PARTS VERDICT
Replace friction material when wear/damage requires it, but correct the alignment, movement or hydraulic cause first so the next pads do not repeat the pattern.
REPAIR → VERIFY
Bed/condition the repaired brake system according to component instructions, then reinspect temperature, free rotation and pad contact after a controlled use cycle.
FPV DIAGNOSTIC RULE
SYMPTOM → TEST → ISOLATE → PROVE → PARTS VERDICT → REPAIR → VERIFY. Modified hardware changes the test plan; it does not prove the failed part.
Related diagnostic paths
Verification trail
AFTER THE FAILURE IS PROVEN
Use the proven failed branch—not the original symptom—to choose the replacement. Go from diagnosis to the Parts Verdict →