Inner front brake pads smaller than outer?

Uncle Stashu · 10-25-2009, 01:32 PM

Hello,

Long time lurker, not sure if I've posted before. Anyhow, I own a 2004 Titan that had the brake TSB done about 2-3 years ago. Within the last few months it's began to act up again (noise and judder) on the front brakes. Was rotating the tires today and wanted to take a look at the front brakes. Upon inspection, I noticed something that I thought looked peculiar.....the swept area of the inner front pads (both sides) is less than that of the outer pads. On the outer pads, the polished area of the rotor (from pad contact) goes almost completely to the edge of the rotor. On the inner side, the polished area is narrower (does not extend to the edge of the rotor) indicating that the inner pads are smaller. Is this normal?? Tried searching for the answer but came up with nothing. Thanks in advance for any help.....

Uncle Stashu · 10-25-2009, 05:33 PM

Upon closer inspection, it appears that the pads are correct, but at some point in the near past they stopped contacting the rotor correctly, leaving a narrower swept area than they had been (took a closer look and can feel where they were contacting). Bizarre, never saw something like that before. Tried to remove the two large bolts that hold the calipers in place.....no luck. Thought I might break them off, given the force I was using on them. Never had a problem removing the caliper bolts from any other vehicle I've owned in the past. Managed to carefully apply a bit of penetrating oil when I had them backed out a bit, may give it a day or three and try again.

**Carbeaux** · 10-25-2009, 05:36 PM

Those two bolts are torqued down HARD, and they're held with Loctite. I doubt you'll break them off, but IIRC they're torqued to 155 ft/lb, so grab a breaker bar. I didn't break mine, but they were mighty tight.