Thursday, October 6, 2011

Why would the back brakes of wear faster than the front?

I have a 92 toyota corolla which has drum brakes in the back and disc in the front. The back brakes were completely worn whereas the front brakes looks just as new as the ones i bought. Why would this happen? i have had the car over a year and never changed the brakes. the guy i bought the car from told me he changed the brakes...maybe he only changed the rear....i dont drive it too much so iono.
Why would the back brakes of wear faster than the front?
Its not worn out pads. The pads on the brake shoes (in the drum brakes), when new are thinner (probably less than half the thickness) than brake pads in a caliper. heres some pics



New Brake Shoes

http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/3701641/av鈥?/a>



New Brake Pads(left, used and old on the right)

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/brak鈥?/a>
Why would the back brakes of wear faster than the front?
Rear drum brakes on most cars typically last for 100,000 miles before needing to be replaced. Most brake power is sent to the front brakes, though they last longer due to their design. ALL cars need to have the brake fluid changed to keep the hydraulic part of the braking system in good shape. Use only genuine TOYOTA fluid to do this.Many brake shops due damage to brake systems by using generic DOT 3 fluid. This makes corrosion in the system, eventually. It will keep your front to rear braking forces balanced! Many cars have a brake equalization valve that corrects distribution of brake force from front to rear based upon the weight of people in the car. These proportioner valves usually are the first to go bad from brake fluid corrosion. GOOD LUCK!!
Most people when they change the brake pads only do the front so the back ones were probably not changed . you should have the front changed twice to the back once as the front take most of the wear. You can check the brake lines to the calipers to see if they are working properly. Go ahead and have someone help you bleed the front brakes to make sure.
Usually the drum brakes last longer than front pads. so-o-o-o-o he may have replaced just the pads because - at the time the rear shoes were still good OR Occasionally leaving the parking brake ON.
The back brakes most likely need adjustment.

You need to have your brakes adjusted so that your front brakes engage first... and your back brakes adjust second.
maybe the rear brakes are original or somebody is pulling the emergency brake and doing spin outs