I'm using stock rotors and calipers. A couple of months ago, I slammed on my brakes right before a little fender bender. The damage was only cosmetic, but I noticed my braking was now really, really bad. At braking above 30 mph, it sort of feels like I'm using ABS (the vibrating pedal feeling), and the whole car shakes.

I found that the pads had never been replaced, so I replaced them with Raybestos quiet stops. While replacing, I noticed the right side pads were twice as worn down as the left side. I figured this was the problem. I finish replacing, hop in the car, take them for a spin, and they feel GREAT. However, one week later the problem is back, so it wasn't the pads.

Could it be air in the lines? I used the c-clamp method, so I didn't bleed the brakes. Neither of the pistons are frozen and they slide great. I'm getting my driver's side axle replaced tomorrow and I heard a bad driveaxle can hinder braking performance, but surely not this bad?

 

If you are getting the shakes when braking at speed, it could be warped rotors. I'm not sure on the uneven pad wear though... maybe the right side is dragging, causing the pads to wear faster? I don't know on that one.

 

Rotors look perfect, no thermal cracking or anything. I got my cv shaft replaced this morning and it has improved a little, but the shakes are still there.

 

If your wheel shakes when braking,you have warped rotors..You will be happy with a Brembo rotor/Hawk hps brake pad retrofit....

 

Definitely replace the rotors.

If one side is wearing faster than the other that side may have a seized caliper, which can only be fixed with a caliper rebuild or replacement.

 

I also suggest replacing rotors. What are you calling left or right side? If the pad on the piston side was worn more than it could be a caliper piston problem or a flex line problem or something else. If the outside pad(side closer to the wheel) is worn more then your caliper sliders could be seized or sticking.

 

Oh Yeah! I had to do that to get my car to stop after running the quarter-mile. I fried stock rotors and Raybestos ceramic pads - the rotors had a weird pattern of bluing (overheating) on the front, and just quit stopping the car. Something about 0-104-0 MPH in 1/2 mile or less, I guess....

Tire Rack has them online - I used the Brembo OEM replacement rotors and Hawk HPS pads, and now I can stop as hard as I want to.