Uneven Brake pad wear - does it need aligning again? Why?

[Flamewinger]

Just scheduled a brake service check with dealer and mentioned the right side pads are worn much more than the left side. His comment question is if the bike has ever been aligned. I told him Squared Away did it about a year and a half ago. He thinks it needs an alignment again. How often should we have it done? Why would the alignment affect brake pad ware?

First pic is right side - second is left side. They are OEM pads.
F9378A46-44D6-48BC-BC78-6C0556795FD5.jpg D2CE9E38-95AB-4559-9516-5936F490F5FF.jpg

[UtahPete]

The dealer's explanation makes no sense to me.

[SportsterDoc]

What are thicknesses in millimeters?

[Flamewinger]

The right pads were about a nickel thick and the left almost twice as thick. The right’s ware groove was gone and the left’s still very prominent.

[AeroPilot]

The right pads were about a nickel thick and the left almost twice as thick. The right’s ware groove was gone and the left’s still very prominent.

Well, all I can think of is that the right side sees more dirt from the side of the road and the caliper gets dirtier and doesn't slide as easily to balance and center and therefore the wear is more lopsided.
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Thats all I got.... but makes more sense than the service or dealer explanation IMHO - thanks for the pics.

[Bfromla]

Glad you caught it before was worse

[Grandpot]

Your dealer is full of crap.

[Flamewinger]

Ya, I was wondering why a platinum dealer would tell me crap about this. Alignment doesn’t affect the brakes.

So I’ll take it in and they’ll do a brake service. No alignment.

Thanks.

[BajaRon]

Alignment has nothing to do with brake pad wear. Your brake pads don't know if you have a good, bad or indifferent alignment. At least he didn't say it was the moon phase! Would have made about as much sense though.

I assume that you are comparing pad sets from the same caliper? Would the worn side be the piston side by chance?

[SportsterDoc]

I assume that you are comparing pad sets from the same caliper? Would the worn side be the piston side by chance?

If I understood post one, inner and outer on right side have twice the wear of inner and outer on left side, so not likely an issue of right caliper not floating.

Cannot figure out how alignment could affect - maybe right side rotor warped?...but then pulling right should have been a symptom.

[RICZ]

Uneven pad wear is not uncommon, especially on the rear. I prefer to do my own maintenance, that way, I know it was done right. A shop manual and the wonderfully helpful posts here have given me confidence. Properly lubing the moving parts is critical and some don't do it. Even shop "techs."

[Flamewinger]

The one caliper had both thinner pads compared to the other, if it had been one thin and one thicker it would've been a sticky pin or caliper. I have replaced the pads and will have the shop do a brake service and replace the rear pads as its a pain to get at. Give me a Goldwing and I'll do pretty much anything, still a bit too new to Spyders to know exactly how to do it.

Plus I am desperate for a ride anywhere!

[PMK]

Your dealer has at least one clueless service writer.
Would be kind of cool when you go back for the brake service, to ask this person to explain it all so you can think about it.

[Flamewinger]

Your dealer has at least one clueless service writer.
Would be kind of cool when you go back for the brake service, to ask this person to explain it all so you can think about it.

Hope I can remember when June 10 comes around.

[cptjam]

Susan, we will be happy to check your alignment the next time we see you! I’m gobsmacked that anyone could tie brake wear with an alignment! Much like the phases of the moon affecting dental cavities! Wow! Find a new dealer!!!!

[BajaRon]

The one caliper had both thinner pads compared to the other, if it had been one thin and one thicker it would've been a sticky pin or caliper. I have replaced the pads and will have the shop do a brake service and replace the rear pads as its a pain to get at. Give me a Goldwing and I'll do pretty much anything, still a bit too new to Spyders to know exactly how to do it.

Plus I am desperate for a ride anywhere!

OK, you did make that clear in your 1st post. I should have paid more attention. That is odd, especially if it did not pull to one side while braking. I would say the thin pad side had more drag on the rotors than the other. How does the rotor on the thin pad side look compared to the other rotor?

[KX5062]

If one side has more wear than the other it suggests to me that one side is dragging slightly. A good cleaning and lubing of the moving parts should solve the problem. New pads and Bob's your uncle.