Disc Brakes, which pad should wear faster, inboard or outboard?

QueBota · Nov 5, 2015

IYHO, which pad typically wears more quickly, inboard (piston side) or outboard. Having a debate with my son.

He has his theory, I have mine.

I suppose in the ideal world they should both wear evenly, in my experience that hasn't been the case.

Would love to hear the TBN opinion on this issue. There is a 12 pack of micro brew riding on the answer.

We are talking older American vehicles, single piston calipers.

Thanks,
Q

HHR · Nov 5, 2015

Inboard in my experience.

Diamondpilot · Nov 5, 2015

Outboard in my experience. Seems they never truly uncontact themselves from the disc.

Chris

Mysfyt · Nov 5, 2015

Another vote for inboard.

farm boy00 · Nov 5, 2015

Mysfyt said:
Another vote for inboard.

I'm going to say for must of our big trucks they actually wear quite evenly. But can't really say which side wore more. Can change every time you change pads. I would vote for inboard by the cylinder

dstig1 · Nov 6, 2015

Inboard every time as far as I have seen. Which figures since it is much harder to check...

Monster5601 · Nov 6, 2015

Inboard on the rear discs, fairly even wear on the front discs.

QueBota · Nov 6, 2015

Thanks guys, we always change them both when servicing.

Any theory behind which bad wears more would be appreciated.

I'm an inboard guy, piston applies pad directly to disc with more force. Outboard pad is just pulled in from the outside. Granted the inboard pad is retracted from the disc when the piston moves back in and although the outboard pad spends more/most of its time in contact with the disc, it is "just along for the ride".

I've seen outboard wear more when the slides/pins were dry or in a bind.

Q

dodge man · Nov 6, 2015

If the inboard wears more, its a sign the puck in the disc is a little sticky, the outboard its a sign the sliders are sticky. Of course there are discs with pucks on both sides, it all depends on the style. But I've seen even wear but seem to see the inboard wears more.

BrinkME · Nov 6, 2015

'83 s10 with single piston - both even
'02 1500 with dual piston (inside) - both even

The few times they haven't been even I've been able to figure out what was sticking/jammed and causing one side to wear faster than the other.