This afternoon I replaced my rear brake pads on my 98 Maxima. Everything seemed ok and the new ones work very well. The only problem I found was that the set of pads from the passenger side seemed more worn out then the ones from the driver side. Both passenger side pads had very little material left in them whereas the other side had more pad material left. Has anyone else had this problem or is this normal?

 

There is a good write up here. Half way down he talks about how one of his pads was more worn than the other. It is only comparing the inner to outer front pads, but may help. Good luck.

http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/302

 

Excess wear on rear pads might indicate the opposite wheel on same axle has a seized caliper. Was the driver side caliper (side with pads less worn) free to rotate back in the caliper?

I might add this also is in an indicator of the diagonally opposed wheel on the same hydraulic circuit also having a seized caliper. A wheel with a seized caliper does not slow down the car as efficiently. You dont notice it, but gradually you end up applying more pressure while braking. Brakes on wheels are grouped 2 wheels on same hydraulic system (usually the diagonally opposed wheels). If one caliper no longer budges, all the hydraulic pressure goes to the opposite wheel, resulting in excess pad wear.

 

The rear driver side caliper piston was as easy to rotate as the passenger side was, using the needle nose pliers I had. Didnt seem like it was seized on either side.

Good point I will have to inspect the drivers side front caliper sometime to see if its seized or damaged.