Brake Calipers bad or just pads?

2001 FORD EXPLORER
117,000 MILES • 6 CYL • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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DGONCALVES
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  • 17 POSTS
My brakes seem to be fine when I step on them. Today I noticed whistling noise, so i looked at rear wheel and rotors had deep grooves in them. Pads are all gone, literally metal on metal. The other side has a good 1/4 or so of pad left. Shouldn't pads wear more or less the same on each side? Is this definitely the caliper or could it just be pads?
Mar 20, 2012 at 9:03 PM
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CARADIODOC
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Just got off the phone with a former student who brought up "another" Ford torn apart on his hoist for grinding rear disc brakes. The cause is a leaking axle seal. The grease gets onto the inner pad and eats it away.
Mar 21, 2012 at 3:45 PM
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DGONCALVES
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
Okay, the metal plate that clips the pad on is resting right against the router causing grinding. I am trying to figure out if it needs the caliper replaced.
Mar 23, 2012 at 10:25 AM
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CARADIODOC
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 34,407 POSTS
Nothing wrong with the caliper. Check for signs of a leaking axle seal.
Mar 23, 2012 at 10:36 AM
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