Wear indicator position
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 920
Likes: 2
From: Rogers, AR, USA
On the bottom is correct. It will contact the rotor moving in a forward direction when the pads wear down. The angle it contacts the rotor will cause it to squeek much like chalk squeeks against an chaulk board when you hold the chaulk at about a 45 degree angle and move it forward. If it is on top, it will just be drug along the rotor behind the pad as the rotor is turning forward and make no noise.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 0
From: Simi Valley CA
The problem I have is that when the pad tapers, it tapers on the top. The reason I asked this question is that my stock pads have significantly less material on the top of each pad than the bottom. So, it renders the wear indicators almost useless as there is more pad where the indicators are than on the other side. Funny 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 920
Likes: 2
From: Rogers, AR, USA
The pad shouldn't taper much if any as it wears. The only reason I can think of to cause your description is the caliper isn't moving freely on the bottom mounting bolt and it is moving freely on the top bolt. This condition can prevent full pressure from being applied to the end of the caliper that is stuck to the bolts and let a greater amount of pressure to be applied to the end that will move freely. These caliper bolts have rubber seals to help keep the dirt out and let the calipers move freely. If I were you, I'd take them apart, clean and lubricate them and make sure the top and bottom of the calipers move freely.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington NC
Originally Posted by alanh
On the bottom is correct. It will contact the rotor moving in a forward direction when the pads wear down. The angle it contacts the rotor will cause it to squeek much like chalk squeeks against an chaulk board when you hold the chaulk at about a 45 degree angle and move it forward. If it is on top, it will just be drug along the rotor behind the pad as the rotor is turning forward and make no noise.
From the Corvette shop manual:
B. The inboard brake pad with the wear sensor installed nearest the brake caliper piston.
C. The wear sensor must be in the trailing position during forward wheel rotation.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington NC
Originally Posted by alanh
The pad shouldn't taper much if any as it wears. The only reason I can think of to cause your description is the caliper isn't moving freely on the bottom mounting bolt and it is moving freely on the top bolt. This condition can prevent full pressure from being applied to the end of the caliper that is stuck to the bolts and let a greater amount of pressure to be applied to the end that will move freely. These caliper bolts have rubber seals to help keep the dirt out and let the calipers move freely. If I were you, I'd take them apart, clean and lubricate them and make sure the top and bottom of the calipers move freely.
Pads taper a ton on stock calipers if you run the car on the track. I replace my front calipers annually to try to combat this. And the caliper pins are always well greased and functioning well. Pad taper is inevitable if you run hard on roadcourses.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 0
From: Simi Valley CA
Originally Posted by Richin Chicago
On top and on the inside of the front brakes and on the bottom and on the inside of the rear brakes so that they are in the trailing postion of the rotors.
From the Corvette shop manual:
B. The inboard brake pad with the wear sensor installed nearest the brake caliper piston.
C. The wear sensor must be in the trailing position during forward wheel rotation.
From the Corvette shop manual:
B. The inboard brake pad with the wear sensor installed nearest the brake caliper piston.
C. The wear sensor must be in the trailing position during forward wheel rotation.
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Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington NC
Originally Posted by kraff
So mine, which were on the inboard bottom on the front of the car, were put in incorrectly by the factory? Pretty amazing. I have tracked the car a couple of times which is why I get the taper, I'm not surprised by that, just that the wear indicators were on the the thicker part of the pad which is the top (on the front).
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 0
From: Simi Valley CA
Originally Posted by Richin Chicago
I am just quoting the manual. Do whatever you think is best.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington NC
Originally Posted by kraff
Frankly, I think they should go the other way, then the wear indicators would actually work. Thanks for the help
We are going to have to disagree on this one. The reason the indicator is on the trailing edge is so that it averages the thickness of the pad. And they do work as I can tell you from driving home from Gingerman with some pretty thin pads. Made a noise every time I used the brake.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 0
From: Simi Valley CA
Originally Posted by Richin Chicago
We are going to have to disagree on this one. The reason the indicator is on the trailing edge is so that it averages the thickness of the pad. And they do work as I can tell you from driving home from Gingerman with some pretty thin pads. Made a noise every time I used the brake.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 0
From: Morgan Hill Ca.
I go through a set of pads and rotors at least a set a year when I am doing heavy Auto-X and open track.
Too MUCH grease on the caliper pins will cause them to lock-up. The Grease can cause the pins to not allow air to escape or enter. Put just enough on them to lube them good. Also use the proper grease. There is a special Graphite, caliper grease for this application.
Too MUCH grease on the caliper pins will cause them to lock-up. The Grease can cause the pins to not allow air to escape or enter. Put just enough on them to lube them good. Also use the proper grease. There is a special Graphite, caliper grease for this application.
