Anyone ever replace pads on one wheel, but not the other?

[AutoMechanic]

No I would never do that. Brakes are wear items and should be replaced together. Not to mention it would drive me crazy knowing one side was different from the other and not replaced at the same time. This sounds like pure laziness to me.

 

[dubber09]

I had to do both on that one. They were wearing uneven

I was being sarcastic, I'd never do just one side, makes no sense to me. Do both, you get pads for both sides in a box, clean, lube, be done mechanically and mentally for a while.

 

[D60]

Some users need to consider how the other half lives. Go watch checkout at a pick 'n pull.

I don't particularly care if other vehicles on the road have matching brakes so long as the drums or rotors are in good condition and the pads or shoes have sufficient friction material.

We all know manufacturers will only approve a single leaking shock or strut under warranty. I wonder if they also only approve pads on one side if the other side is with X mm of new?

 

[chorty]

After the premature replacement of my brake pads thanks to some swollen caliper pin boots causing uneven wear I only ended up changing the pads on one front wheel and not the other. I think I have another 3 or 4k miles on the pads on the other side and they're wearing perfectly so I used the if it aint broke don't fix it mentality on this one. Probably a bitog sin, but oh well. I'm going to have to start taking the tires off every once and a while moving forward so I can see the inner pad. I just didn't feel like messing with it today. Truck still stops fine, and the steering wheel doesn't pull one way or the other.

This is at least a step up from taking used brakes off a used vehicle and installing only one set.

At the same time, brakes are used to stop, just in case something happens in front of you.

 

[WobblyElvis]

A couple of times I have had problems with pads wearing unevenly due to stuck caliper or whatever. Changed one side only and it worked fine.

 

[The motor guy]

Some users need to consider how the other half lives. Go watch checkout at a pick 'n pull.

I don't particularly care if other vehicles on the road have matching brakes so long as the drums or rotors are in good condition and the pads or shoes have sufficient friction material.

We all know manufacturers will only approve a single leaking shock or strut under warranty. I wonder if they also only approve pads on one side if the other side is with X mm of new?

A good number of people on here have LOTS of money. Everyone says, oh just throw a new set on, takes 5 minutes. Not when you have to fix someone else's poor workmanship all the time and then figure out if it's the caliper that's seized or just a slide pin. Looking at the pads with the tire off I could see everything was fine on the drivers side, so I put the tire back on and took the boat out instead to retain my sanity for the rest of the week. The oil needs to be changed in another couple weeks. I can monkey with it then. I'm also not working on a honda civic either. I got 16 lug nuts that need to be torqued to 145 ft lbs and tires that probably weigh 80 pounds.

 

[crashz]

I don't struggle and feel lucky about that, but don't have lots of money.

But the pads can only bought by the axle set. So why not replace them all? It can't be a money issue because you can't buy just one side at a time.

I replaced the pads on my new-to-me truck this past fall. Every year or so, I like to get in and clean up and lube the slide pins and the brackets as rust usually seizes either the pads or the caliper from moving properly. I bought pads, they were the wrong ones, but the ones on the truck were in great shape with enough meat on each that they looked brand new. Rotors looked brand new as well. But the brackets and slide pins still needed to be cleaned and lubed.

Such is life in the rust belt.

As far as doing one side only, that would be for an emergency repair only. IE you're on the side of the road and need get home or a repair shop.

 

[rijndael]

I don't keep spare pads around. If I have to buy new pads, then I'm putting in all of the new pads.

 

[The motor guy]

I replaced the pads on my new-to-me truck this past fall. Every year or so, I like to get in and clean up and lube the slide pins and the brackets as rust usually seizes either the pads or the caliper from moving properly. I bought pads, they were the wrong ones, but the ones on the truck were in great shape with enough meat on each that they looked brand new. Rotors looked brand new as well. But the brackets and slide pins still needed to be cleaned and lubed.

Such is life in the rust belt.

As far as doing one side only, that would be for an emergency repair only. IE you're on the side of the road and need get home or a repair shop.

I don't live in the rust belt. You can keep a rust free vehicle for 30 years in the south

 

[D60]

I don't struggle and feel lucky about that, but don't have lots of money.

But the pads can only bought by the axle set. So why not replace them all? It can't be a money issue because you can't buy just one side at a time.

I replaced the pads on my new-to-me truck this past fall. Every year or so, I like to get in and clean up and lube the slide pins and the brackets as rust usually seizes either the pads or the caliper from moving properly. I bought pads, they were the wrong ones, but the ones on the truck were in great shape with enough meat on each that they looked brand new. Rotors looked brand new as well. But the brackets and slide pins still needed to be cleaned and lubed.

Such is life in the rust belt.

As far as doing one side only, that would be for an emergency repair only. IE you're on the side of the road and need get home or a repair shop.

Again, go to pick 'n pull and you'll see people buying one set of pads.

I wouldn't personally bother with used pads, but I applaud them for maintaining their brakes at all.

AFAIK the only thing u-pull-its won't sell is cats, and that was ~20 years ago before precious metal prices soared. Rather, it was an emissions/legality thing then.

 

[FlyingTexan]

After the premature replacement of my brake pads thanks to some swollen caliper pin boots causing uneven wear I only ended up changing the pads on one front wheel and not the other. I think I have another 3 or 4k miles on the pads on the other side and they're wearing perfectly so I used the if it aint broke don't fix it mentality on this one. Probably a bitog sin, but oh well. I'm going to have to start taking the tires off every once and a while moving forward so I can see the inner pad. I just didn't feel like messing with it today. Truck still stops fine, and the steering wheel doesn't pull one way or the other.

At a minimum do things in pairs

 

[Jetronic]

Considering how many times they stop, they probably just do it as a preventive measure. I bet they're metal on metal by month two and the drivers aren't going to care

they're not exactly going fast when stopping though.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

I live in the Salt Belt. I've seen the slides on one caliper bracket go bad from salt intrusion, and the other side is fine. Clean the pins, change the boots, or get a new caliper bracket with new pins and boots. Example: driver side pads are done, passenger side pads had plenty of meat. So yes, the Salt Belt is a different animal to contend with. It sux, and will finally be moving out of this belt in 7 yrs. Every spring, I have to take everything apart, clean, re-lube, or replace. I have many stocked parts when needed. Calipers / brackets / boots / pins/....it's sheer insanity in the Salt Belt. Constant maintenance . I even scheduled my back surgery for June of 25', knowing that by April of 26' , I'll be well enough to tackle the jobs .....

 

[Capt W]

I live in the Salt Belt. I've seen the slides on one caliper bracket go bad from salt intrusion, and the other side is fine. Clean the pins, change the boots, or get a new caliper bracket with new pins and boots. Example: driver side pads are done, passenger side pads had plenty of meat. So yes, the Salt Belt is a different animal to contend with. It sux, and will finally be moving out of this belt in 7 yrs. Every spring, I have to take everything apart, clean, re-lube, or replace. I have many stocked parts when needed. Calipers / brackets / boots / pins/....it's sheer insanity in the Salt Belt. Constant maintenance . I even scheduled my back surgery for June of 25', knowing that by April of 26' , I'll be well enough to tackle the jobs .....

Interesting side-to-side rust differential, in that the passenger side is often more affected by salt due to the crowning of roads and the tendency for snow, slush, salt, and slurry to accumulate on the right side of roads. I was a frequent street parker, so may have done more damage in my particular circumstance.

I spent the last 7.5 years of my USAF career in the St. Louis area; those years did a real number on my trusty old 2005 Caravan. Worst damage was two giant rust holes in the rocker panels -- passenger side only.

I escaped back to TX as soon as I could. Don't miss the Midwest a single bit.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

What you say is all too familiar to me. The passenger side always gets it the worst. Been driving in this Salt Belt since 1980 or so. I've had it. Enough is enough. 2 back surgeries already. Time to go. Got too old to play with this salt nonsense.

 

[The motor guy]

Interesting side-to-side rust differential, in that the passenger side is often more affected by salt due to the crowning of roads and the tendency for snow, slush, salt, and slurry to accumulate on the right side of roads. I was a frequent street parker, so may have done more damage in my particular circumstance.

I spent the last 7.5 years of my USAF career in the St. Louis area; those years did a real number on my trusty old 2005 Caravan. Worst damage was two giant rust holes in the rocker panels -- passenger side only.

I escaped back to TX as soon as I could. Don't miss the Midwest a single bit.

No different than a boat trailer in the salt water. Gotta hose that baby down.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Yeah, right, in New York. When the temps are in the teens, you're hoses are blown out for the winter so they don't split, car washes are closed because the town doesn't want a trail a water on the road coming off the cars causing an ice rink road.....Yeah, hose them down. Not happening in the Salt Belt. I'll get out soon.

 

[The motor guy]

Yeah, right, in New York. When the temps are in the teens, you're hoses are blown out for the winter so they don't split, car washes are closed because the town doesn't want a trail a water on the road coming off the cars causing an ice rink road.....Yeah, hose them down. Not happening in the Salt Belt. I'll get out soon.

Well, I've heard that below freezing corrosion is at a minimum. Its not until it turns into a liquid again that it begins. Carwash businesses must not be a good idea in the north

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Where I live, in Southern New York, maybe 60 miles from Manhattan, the temps swing wildly during the day. In the am, it could be 10 degrees,,,then by 2 pm it's in the 30's. Constant corrosion. Been here my whole life. Rarely the temps stay below freezing all day. As for the car washes, they won't open unless the temps are above 32 degrees. Jan & Feb they are hurtin. May catch a week or two in those months being open... They make up for it though. They make a killing in Dec & Mar. The line is 20 cars deep. Haven't seen one close up shop yet. I guess you can say it's their " vacation" time. I know the owner of one car wash. He just lays off 95% of the staff.,,,saving money...

 

[Donald]

After the premature replacement of my brake pads thanks to some swollen caliper pin boots causing uneven wear I only ended up changing the pads on one front wheel and not the other. I think I have another 3 or 4k miles on the pads on the other side and they're wearing perfectly so I used the if it aint broke don't fix it mentality on this one. Probably a bitog sin, but oh well. I'm going to have to start taking the tires off every once and a while moving forward so I can see the inner pad. I just didn't feel like messing with it today. Truck still stops fine, and the steering wheel doesn't pull one way or the other.

Only for a few days until I got time to do the other wheel.