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Brake imbalance

Oldspice2022
Oldspice2022
in Ford Focus Club

Featured Replies

I recently replaced the front offside brake caliper and pad and didn't do anything with the nearside. 

My brakes are now imbalanced with 3.35kn on nearside and 2.27kn on offside.

Does anybody know why the new caliper and pad has less force than the old ones. I thought this was strange. I plan to replace the nearside pads but not sure if this will correct the imbalance...

  • Quote


    For the very reason you have now an imbalance, brake components are always changed in pairs.

    Pads, Discs, and if needed, Calipers should be changed together on the same axle otherwise there will always be an imbalance. Fitting new parts to only one side can lead to a dangerous situation especially under heavy or emergency braking.

     

     

     

     

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Author
    6 minutes ago, unofix said:

    For the very reason you have now an imbalance, brake components are always changed in pairs.

    Pads, Discs, and if needed, Calipers should be changed together on the same axle otherwise there will always be an imbalance. Fitting new parts to only one side can lead to a dangerous situation especially under heavy or emergency braking.

     

     

     

     

    Yes agreed I should have changed the other brake pads, but the car lay over covid and the caliper got seized and wouldn't release. I had to use it one morning and only got time to change one side. Then I took it for the test as I thought the car was driving fine.  I just thought it was interesting that the old caliper was applying more force than new setup. That was really my question as I thought there may still be an issue with the new offside setup. Anyway I will check with mechanic.

  • Quote

    May not have been bled properly?  Or if the pads are brand new, they may still need to be bed in.

  • Quote

    Yes, always replace discs and pads (and shocks, bushes and springs) in pairs

    The new pads haven't bedded in yet

  • Quote

    I agree with Dave, the new probably not bedded in yet. Don’t know how many miles you have done with new pads on one side.  If you now replace the other pads you might still have imbalance as one side might be 50% bedded in and the newer one much less.  Have you actually failed the mot on it?  You might find you need to buy a new set of 4 and put them all in now to get through mot. 

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