3 Tried-and-True Ways to Fix Rear Brake Imbalance (from Your Local Hamilton Mechanic)
Ever had your car do something weird when you hit the brakes – like pull to one side, or judder a bit as you roll up to the lights in Claudelands or Ruakura? Happens a lot, especially with all the potholes on Borman Road and the stop-start mess along Anglesea Street. We see it here at Grimmer Motors more than you’d think – rear brake imbalance. Not just annoying, either. It can mean your car takes longer to stop, wears out pads unevenly, and sometimes might even fail your next WOF Hamilton check. Let me run through the top three things our techs get stuck into when we’re sorting this out, whether it’s a lady from Te Awamutu in her Renault Captur, or a bloke from Morrinsville with his Suzuki Vitara.
1. Give Those Rear Brakes a Good Look – Pads, Rotors, Calipers
First off, we stick the car up on the hoist and actually look. Can be a Nissan X-Trail, a Peugeot 2008, or even a Mazda CX-3 – brake gear just doesn’t last forever. One of our techs had a customer in from Cambridge with an Isuzu MU-X, complaining her car shuddered when she braked outside The Base. Sure enough, one rear pad was worn down to the metal, the other side still tidy. That’s classic imbalance.
- Pop the rear wheels off and eye up those pads – is one wafer thin while the other’s chunky?
- Scan the rotors. Got grooves? Blue patches? Could be warped. That’s a red flag.
- Give the calipers a wiggle. Shouldn’t feel jammed or twisted. If they’re sticking, you’ll get uneven braking fast.
- If you see anything dodgy, swap the bits out – don’t forget to line everything up sweet before the wheels go back on.
Doesn’t matter if you’ve got a Toyota C-HR, a Skoda Rapid, or a Honda Airwave – keeping those rear brakes tidy saves you drama later. Staying on top of preventative maintenance does wonders, especially with Hamilton’s weather flipping from damp Pirongia mornings to scorcher afternoons in Rototuna.
2. Bleed the Brakes – Get Rid of Air in the System
Honestly, we’ve lost count of how many people swap their own pads (good on ya, by the way) and then wonder why the pedal’s gone soft. Had a woman from Raglan in with her Mitsubishi Outlander – she’d done the rear pads herself, but ended up with uneven stopping; air sneaked into the brake lines. Once there’s air in there, one side grabs, the other slacks off. Not what you want coming up to the roundabout on River Road.
- Jack it up, spot those bleeder valves on each caliper out back.
- Tube on valve, drop the other end in a bottle with clean fluid.
- Pump the pedal, crack the valve open, close it before you release the pedal. Repeat till there’s no bubbles.
Want the finer details? Have a look at How to Bleed Brakes.
Nice, bubble-free lines mean regular pedal feel and even brake power – so your Subaru Forester’s pulling up straight no matter if you’re in Flagstaff or tearing through Ohaupo for cricket practice.
3. Change Out Old Brake Fluid – Don’t Let Gunk Stuff Up Your Brakes
Seen way too many cars come in, especially older hybrids or little runabouts like a Kia Rio from Matangi, with gooey, ancient brake fluid. Moisture gets in, the fluid turns mucky, and suddenly your brakes start acting up. Easy to skip, but big mistake if you want to pass that next car service Hamilton visit.
- Check what’s in your owner’s manual (DOT 3, DOT 4, whatever the car needs).
- Suck out old fluid from the reservoir. Turkey baster works a treat.
- Top up with new brake fluid.
- Bleed out each corner till fresh stuff comes through, no old sludge left.
Want to know why it matters? Have a squiz at Brake Fluid and Moisture or our own Brake Fluid Replacement Guide.
Good fluid means your brakes work just as well on a drizzly winter morning in Tamahere as they do on a boiling summer day in Chartwell. No stress.
Why Book Your Brake Repairs at Grimmer Motors?
We see the lot – everything from Daihatsu Sirions to flash new Audis, and plenty of hybrids too. Our techs know the difference between a quick pad swap and a proper brake overhaul. We deal with all kinds: first-car owners from Ngaruawahia, busy parents from Hillcrest, tradies from Temple View – and yeah, we’re pretty sharp at picking the real issues behind those annoying rear brake problems.
Honest advice, top service, and we’ll make sure your car stops straight and true – no faffing about. If your brakes are acting up or you just want a check before a long trip or that next dreaded WOF, give us a shout here or just cruise in for a chat.