I changed the front brake pads on my roommates 93 EX (as a part of putting new rotors on it). I noticed that the pads on the driver's side had about 3/16 inch of wear compared to the new pads, but the pads on the passenger side had almost zero wear.

I had him break the rotors in, and checked afterwards, and sure enough the rotor on the drivers side is a slight bluish color as it should be, but the one on the passenger side is still silver. The inboad and outboard pad on each wheel is worn evenly, so I don't think it's a problem with caliper centering.

I'm worried about this because if the driver's side brake is working much better than the passenger side, it can cause a problem in wet or otherwise comprimised conditions. Can anyone tell me what could cause this? The car does have ABS. Is it a problem with the caliper, proportioning valve, the master cylinder, or worse? I don't think it was harder to push one piston in than the other, so I really don't think it's the calipers.

Thanks

 

Sounds like a bad hose or caliper. The easiest way to check, which isn't alway accurate. Is to have some one step on the brake and release. Then open the bleeder and see if fluid shoots out. If it does the hose is holding pressure on the caliper. If not, the caliper itself is sticking. In either case I would replace both, becuase of the heat created with dragging brakes. But at least it narrows the problem down some.

 

When you replaced the brake pads did you put any lubb on the caliper slide pins? These would be the ones you hav to take out to replace the brake pads. If not and they were dry before, then that is more then likely your problem. You can use stuff called molycoat or silicone past from 3m. Either one you can get a Napa. The 3m past works a little better and seems to last longer too.

 

The slide pins were nice and lubed. I'm pretty sure it's not a problem with the brakes dragging. More like anti-dragging on the passenger side. The pads were a year old, and I doubt that there would be zero wear after that time.

Plus, when the car was up on jackstands the wheels spun freely after applying and releasing the brakes.

I'll try to bleed the passenger side to see if fluid comes out. Perhaps the hose is blocked so pressure is not making its way to the caliper.

 

It sounds like a warped rotor.