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Brake pads and discs trouble tracers

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Scored surface

trouble-tracers-cv-scoredsurface
aPPearance

Disc featuring scored surface.

cause

Pads fitted with friction material too harsh for the disc or new pads assembled on excessively worn out discs.

effect

Reduction in braking performance and possible imbalance on the affected axle during braking.

remedy
  • Replace the pads.
  • Check disc condition and minimum thickness.
    If necessary, replace the disc.
  • Check for the quality of the spare parts used.

 

blue stripes

trouble-tracers-cv-bluestripes
aPPearance

Blue stripes on the disc indicating a physical change due to overheating.

cause

Intensive use of brakes for prolonged braking or improper downhill braking.

effect

Brake disc overheating which may result in contact surface distortion and cracks.

remedy
  • Compulsory replacement of brake discs and pads.
  • During the first 250 km after replacement, sharp braking should be avoid in order to allow for the correct bedding-in of the newly fitted components.

 

degree crack

trouble-tracers-cv-degreecrack
aPPearance

Disc surface features 1st and 2nd degree crack.

cause

Too intensive use of brakes due to the track features or to the carried load.

effect

Possible unexpected disc mechanical collapse, particularly with 2nd degree crack.

remedy
  • Compulsory replacement of brake discs and pads, particularly with 2nd degree crack, when one of the cracks is travelling from OD to ID.
  • Brake calipers shall be checked.

 

contaminated pad

trouble-tracers-cv-contaminatedpad
aPPearance

Contaminated pad friction material.

cause

Contamination by an oily substance or solvent.

effect

Reduction in braking performance and possible imbalance during braking.

remedy
  • Replace the pads.
  • Check the discs on the axle.
  • Identify any fluid leaks from the hubs or other nearby components.

 

glazed pad

trouble-tracers-cv-glazedpad
aPPearance

Glazed pad friction material.

cause

Very low duty applied on the brakes, i.e. brake applications with low speed and low pressure.

effect

Reduction in braking performance and typical noise (squeal) while braking.

remedy
  • If glazing is not too heavy can try to recondition the surface by some mileage of medium/hard brake duty, otherwise replace the pads.
  • Check the disc condition and minimum thickness.

detached friction material

trouble-tracers-cv-detachedfriction
aPPearance

Detached friction material.

cause

Possible excessive load or heavy braking, along with the choice of unsuitable parts.

effect

Reduction in braking performance and typical noise (squeal) while braking.

remedy
  • Replace the pads.
  • Check the disc condition and minimum thickness.
  • Despite having a wear indicator, it is necessary to check the pad condition every normal garage brake control visit and/or every six months.

Uneven wear ( brake pad)

trouble-tracers-cv-unevenwear
aPPearance

Uneven brake pad wear.

cause

One of the calipers has become stuck or does not return correctly to the rest position.

effect

Reduction in braking performance and possible inbalance on the involved axle, during braking.

solution
  • Replace the pads.
  • Brake calipers should be checked.

 

metal friction

trouble-tracers-cv-metalfriction
aPPearance

Friction includes metal pick-up.

cause

High temperature generated between brake shoe and disc in wet conditions.

effect

Wear of the affected brake disc with typical metal rubbing noise during braking.

solution
  • Replace the pads.
  • Check disc condition and minimum thickness.
  • If necessary, replace both discs on the axle.

 

surface cracks

trouble-tracers-cv-surfacecracks
aPPearance

Pad with surface cracks.

cause

Excessive load or high friction material temperature.

effect

Possible detachment of friction material resulting in a reduction in braking performance.

solution
  • Replace the pads.
  • Check for correct caliper operation.
  • Check disc condition and minimum thickness.
  • If necessary, replace both discs on the axle.

excessively worn

trouble-tracers-cv-excessivelyworn
aPPearance

Excessively worn out discs and pads.

cause

Possible contamination of the friction material by sand, mud or earth or incomplete return of the caliper gear.

effect

Excessive wear of one or more brake pads, resulting in damage where the pad has not been fitted with a wear indicator.

solution
  • Replace the pads.
  • Check disc condition and minimum thickness.
  • If necessary, replace both discs on the axle.

uneven wear (pads axle)

trouble-tracers-cv-unevenwearaxle
aPPearance

Pads on the same axle featuring uneven wear.

cause

Incorrect return of one caliper on the same axle.

effect

If the axle involved is the directional one, this fault may result in vehicle instability during brake release.

solution
  • Replace the pads.
  • Check for the proper caliper operation.
  • Check disc condition and minimum thickness.
  • If necessary, replace both discs on the axle.

Edge Crumbling

trouble-tracers-cv-edgecrumbling
aPPearance

Uneven wear pattern on the pad

cause

Brake pad is sticking within the caliper causing the brake pad to stay in contact with the disc with associated excessive pad temperature

effect

Pad surface may glaze reducing brake performance

remedy
  • Investigate cause of caliper sticking
  • Maintain the caliper
  • Replace the brake pad set

 

Scored surface

trouble-tracers-cv-scoredsurface
aPPearance

Disc featuring scored surface.

cause

Pads fitted with friction material too harsh for the disc or new pads assembled on excessively worn out discs.

effect

Reduction in braking performance and possible imbalance on the affected axle during braking.

remedy
  • Replace the pads.
  • Check disc condition and minimum thickness.
    If necessary, replace the disc.
  • Check for the quality of the spare parts used.

 

blue stripes

trouble-tracers-cv-bluestripes
aPPearance

Blue stripes on the disc indicating a physical change due to overheating.

cause

Intensive use of brakes for prolonged braking or improper downhill braking.

effect

Brake disc overheating which may result in contact surface distortion and cracks.

remedy
  • Compulsory replacement of brake discs and pads.
  • During the first 250 km after replacement, sharp braking should be avoid in order to allow for the correct bedding-in of the newly fitted components.

 

degree crack

trouble-tracers-cv-degreecrack
aPPearance

Disc surface features 1st and 2nd degree crack.

cause

Too intensive use of brakes due to the track features or to the carried load.

effect

Possible unexpected disc mechanical collapse, particularly with 2nd degree crack.

remedy
  • Compulsory replacement of brake discs and pads, particularly with 2nd degree crack, when one of the cracks is travelling from OD to ID.
  • Brake calipers shall be checked.

 

contaminated pad

trouble-tracers-cv-contaminatedpad
aPPearance

Contaminated pad friction material.

cause

Contamination by an oily substance or solvent.

effect

Reduction in braking performance and possible imbalance during braking.

remedy
  • Replace the pads.
  • Check the discs on the axle.
  • Identify any fluid leaks from the hubs or other nearby components.

 

glazed pad

trouble-tracers-cv-glazedpad
aPPearance

Glazed pad friction material.

cause

Very low duty applied on the brakes, i.e. brake applications with low speed and low pressure.

effect

Reduction in braking performance and typical noise (squeal) while braking.

remedy
  • If glazing is not too heavy can try to recondition the surface by some mileage of medium/hard brake duty, otherwise replace the pads.
  • Check the disc condition and minimum thickness.

detached friction material

trouble-tracers-cv-detachedfriction
aPPearance

Detached friction material.

cause

Possible excessive load or heavy braking, along with the choice of unsuitable parts.

effect

Reduction in braking performance and typical noise (squeal) while braking.

remedy
  • Replace the pads.
  • Check the disc condition and minimum thickness.
  • Despite having a wear indicator, it is necessary to check the pad condition every normal garage brake control visit and/or every six months.

Uneven wear ( brake pad)

trouble-tracers-cv-unevenwear
aPPearance

Uneven brake pad wear.

cause

One of the calipers has become stuck or does not return correctly to the rest position.

effect

Reduction in braking performance and possible inbalance on the involved axle, during braking.

solution
  • Replace the pads.
  • Brake calipers should be checked.

 

metal friction

trouble-tracers-cv-metalfriction
aPPearance

Friction includes metal pick-up.

cause

High temperature generated between brake shoe and disc in wet conditions.

effect

Wear of the affected brake disc with typical metal rubbing noise during braking.

solution
  • Replace the pads.
  • Check disc condition and minimum thickness.
  • If necessary, replace both discs on the axle.

 

surface cracks

trouble-tracers-cv-surfacecracks
aPPearance

Pad with surface cracks.

cause

Excessive load or high friction material temperature.

effect

Possible detachment of friction material resulting in a reduction in braking performance.

solution
  • Replace the pads.
  • Check for correct caliper operation.
  • Check disc condition and minimum thickness.
  • If necessary, replace both discs on the axle.

excessively worn

trouble-tracers-cv-excessivelyworn
aPPearance

Excessively worn out discs and pads.

cause

Possible contamination of the friction material by sand, mud or earth or incomplete return of the caliper gear.

effect

Excessive wear of one or more brake pads, resulting in damage where the pad has not been fitted with a wear indicator.

solution
  • Replace the pads.
  • Check disc condition and minimum thickness.
  • If necessary, replace both discs on the axle.

uneven wear (pads axle)

trouble-tracers-cv-unevenwearaxle
aPPearance

Pads on the same axle featuring uneven wear.

cause

Incorrect return of one caliper on the same axle.

effect

If the axle involved is the directional one, this fault may result in vehicle instability during brake release.

solution
  • Replace the pads.
  • Check for the proper caliper operation.
  • Check disc condition and minimum thickness.
  • If necessary, replace both discs on the axle.

Edge Crumbling

trouble-tracers-cv-edgecrumbling
aPPearance

Uneven wear pattern on the pad

cause

Brake pad is sticking within the caliper causing the brake pad to stay in contact with the disc with associated excessive pad temperature

effect

Pad surface may glaze reducing brake performance

remedy
  • Investigate cause of caliper sticking
  • Maintain the caliper
  • Replace the brake pad set

 

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