I had to redo my brakes again, I don't think I even got 20,000 miles this time. I had installed EBC rotors and Bendix Cearmic pads, lasted 1 year. This time I opted for the cheapest thing, as long as it only lasts a year anyway.
I did notice SEVERE wear in the inside pads, and LOTS of meat left on the outer pads, however the piston moves freely, and the2 bushings that allow for caliper movement also moved freely. What else could be causing such uneven wear?

 

It may be moving but not enough.

When the inside is wearing out and the outside has a lot left most of the braking is on the inside pad. The caliper may move to the outside pad a little but not enought to put full pressure on it.

Odds are the caliper is binding up either on the pins or bushings. Remember under a load these things can be more limited vs you working in sitting still.

 

I have 75,000 mile on the original brakes and they still look good. Question are you a two foot driver, one foot on the gas the other on the brakes? That type of driving will wear the brakes out quickly. I see them on the road going down the highway with brake lights on and off for no apparent reason.

 

Hardly, I've been known for occassional hyper-miling, which means the LAST thing you do is apply the brakes. I did not check my hub run-out but I believe many of these HHR's have out-of spec hubs, as a large percentage get the brake "shimmies", some don't. Fortunately I buy brake parts very cheaply, as I have a friend in the business.

 

I got about 75,000 on my first set of pads/rotors and am at 134k now with plenty of life left. I do have the shimmies though. It seems to start about 20k after new rotors as it was fine when i put them on. I got the best pads at Autozone (lifetime warranty) and rotors. Whats the story on the shimmies?

 

The pulsing brakes are generally due to the hubs being out of spec.

The new cars today use roller bearing sealed hubs to get better MPG but they have issues on wear vs the old Taper Bearings.

You can only get .001-.002 of play before they need replaced.

That happens is the brake rotor will wobble driving down the road and bounce off the pads. This wears the rotor thickness uneven and will make the pedals pulse or as you said Shimmy.

Hot spots can do the same thing. Too often the rotor thickness variation is mistaken for warped rotors. That is why when many replace the rotor they have the same issue 8,000 miles later.

It was not all that many years ago if you got 36,000 miles on front pads you were doing really well. I think many done know or have forgotten how much better brakes are today.

 

Third set at 57,000 miles, but I will change the calipers next time. One pad showed unusual wear, the other set had plenty of meat.

 

Maybe your slide pins are dry and seized.

 

This reminds me. I need to check mine. They just started squealing in the back.

 

One would want to think so, however they can be easily moved by hand, and full of grease.