Rear Pads wearing quicker than the front

swinnie · 16 Dec 2014 at 23:03

Had a quick inspection of the Skoda Rapid today as I do and I couldn't help but notice the difference in visua pad thickness between the rear and the front. The fronts have considerably more meat left on them than the rear. Is this normal?

I have only owned cars with rear drum brakes so rear brake wear has only been noted in major services (as per vehicles schedule).

hawker1986 · 16 Dec 2014 at 23:06

I think normally rear pads are thinner than fronts as the front pads do most of the braking work. So probably just normal. Wouldn't worry just keep an eye and make sure its not becoming more pronounced. Presumably both at the back are a similar thickness? If one side was more than the other might be worried about a seized caliper.

Hawker

swinnie · 16 Dec 2014 at 23:48

Thanks for the reply.

Everything is wearing evenly, and no odd noises when driving as I thought that perhaps the handbrake could be sticking.

Just jumped over to Euro Car Parts and the front and rear spec have a few mm difference with the fronts being slightly thicker. I'll keep an eye on it with my checks.

Snaggle · 17 Dec 2014 at 00:58

rear pads in a lot of cases are thinner to start with compared to fronts .. My xsara rears are only about 20mm

Minstadave · 17 Dec 2014 at 06:55

I also thought if you have an electronic handbrake the rears pads are quite soft.

snapdragon69 · 17 Dec 2014 at 08:11

With modern (<9 years) cars' EBD (electronic brake-force distribution), this is normal.

Housey · 17 Dec 2014 at 08:54

Just put new disks and pads on mine, the rears last half the length of the fronts using my massively unscientific man maths.

planty · 17 Dec 2014 at 09:25

I've also recently replaced my rear pads and disks, whilst my fronts are still going strong. I wondered the same thing so I'm glad you started this thread!

Firestar_3x · 17 Dec 2014 at 10:56

I remember reading in a VW tech handbook a few years ago, it stated that at slower speeds the car uses the rear brakes more to allow for a smoother stop, so could be something to do with that.

( |-| |2 ][ $ · 17 Dec 2014 at 12:10

My rears are still on the original pads at 84k (and it just pasted an mot).
Fronts are on their third set.

VAG group cars hardly use the rears is what the main dealers tell me.

swinnie · 17 Dec 2014 at 13:02

snapdragon69 said:
With modern (<9 years) cars' EBD (electronic brake-force distribution), this is normal.

That is interesting to know. I was always lead to believe that most of the braking is placed on the front brakes, with the rears being responsible for maybe 30% or less, and handbrake operation.

Housey said:
Just put new disks and pads on mine, the rears last half the length of the fronts using my massively unscientific man maths.

That man maths cannot be faulted!

planty said:
I've also recently replaced my rear pads and disks, whilst my fronts are still going strong. I wondered the same thing so I'm glad you started this thread!

What mileage/car? Mine is on 26k or so. Quite a bit of pad left, even on the rears. Amazed that the front tyres aren't quite baked yet, either.

Firestar_3x said:
I remember reading in a VW tech handbook a few years ago, it stated that at slower speeds the car uses the rear brakes more to allow for a smoother stop, so could be something to do with that.

Interesting. It wouldn't surprise me, if this was linked to the EBD response above.

( |-| |2 ][ $;27359289 said:
My rears are still on the original pads at 84k (and it just pasted an mot).
Fronts are on their third set.

VAG group cars hardly use the rears is what the main dealers tell me.

That's the sort of wear that I would expect. I know they are drums, but my Mrs' Aygo is on 60k or so and the rears aren't due replacement yet. However, it's soon to be due it's second set of pads and disks on the front.

LupoLover · 17 Dec 2014 at 13:09

This is all very subjective to individual vehicles as cheaper/older vehicles will be using a simple bias valve in rear beam to adjust rear braking automatically whilst modern more greater complex systems will have modules deciding how much force is used on the rear

telewebby · 17 Dec 2014 at 21:03

esp/traction control will be using the rear brakes as a balance without you really knowing it and cause them to wear quicker along with being thinner

Alex

abbotsmike · 17 Dec 2014 at 22:52

( |-| |2 ][ $;27359289 said:
My rears are still on the original pads at 84k (and it just pasted an mot).
Fronts are on their third set.

VAG group cars hardly use the rears is what the main dealers tell me.

This is my experience. I have to replace the rears on my ibiza because they'd crumbled to dust, not because they were worn!

Diddums · 17 Dec 2014 at 22:56

Heh, my Mini's got dust on the alloys.

Not brake dust, rust dust. For real. That's the state I bought it in. One caliper sticks and squeaks like a cincinnati rat under a tractor even when not in use.

I have in the boot of the mini:

Full set of discs.
Full set of pads.
Top mounts (front).
Track rod bushes (front).
Aux belt and tensioner.
Cabin filter.

If you're handy with tools, live in London and want to make a few squids on a Saturday, hit me up

swinnie · 17 Dec 2014 at 23:00

abbotsmike said:
This is my experience. I have to replace the rears on my ibiza because they'd crumbled to dust, not because they were worn!

Thats, errr, worrying!

Mind you, a few years ago my Mum was arguing with me that she needed new tyres on her Corrolla. They weren't worn out, they were crumbling! She said as they weren't worn out they were fine, I told her otherwise and got them changed!

Diddums said:
Heh, my Mini's got dust on the alloys.

Not brake dust, rust dust. For real. That's the state I bought it in. One caliper sticks and squeaks like a cincinnati rat under a tractor even when not in use.

I have in the boot of the mini:

Full set of discs.
Full set of pads.
Top mounts (front).
Track rod bushes (front).
Aux belt and tensioner.
Cabin filter.

If you're handy with tools, live in London and want to make a few squids on a Saturday, hit me up

That's a fair bit of work to get done, at least largely it's all around the wheel area... If the Cabin Filter is anything like my Mrs' Aygo, just pop your head under the glove box pull clip together, remove filter and push in new one - job done.

Diddums · 17 Dec 2014 at 23:05

Oh yeah it's not hard at all, it's just a case of finding the arsed. I could do all the suspension and brakes too if I had all the tools. A mate of mine down the road has most of them, but he's never home. I also bought all these bits when the weather was considerably better too.

I have no intention of lying under a Mini replacing all these bits in the freezing cold, I still have scars from when I was younger and smashed my knuckles to bits in rubbish weather.

Although I should probably do the aux belt and tensioner, that's REALLY starting to make some naughty noises.

Sounds like a turbo. All the time. All. The. Time.

mattyfez · 18 Dec 2014 at 02:21

swinnie said:
Had a quick inspection of the Skoda Rapid today as I do and I couldn't help but notice the difference in visua pad thickness between the rear and the front. The fronts have considerably more meat left on them than the rear. Is this normal?

I have only owned cars with rear drum brakes so rear brake wear has only been noted in major services (as per vehicles schedule).

The rear brakes on this kind of car are smaller, 90% of the braking is carried out by the front brakes. The rear brakes are just for show.