What could cause uneven brake wear?

Answer: B — Misaligned brake components or insufficient adjustment

Uneven brake wear is often attributed to misaligned brake components or insufficient adjustment. When brake components, such as calipers or drums, are not aligned properly, they can apply pressure unevenly across the brake pad surface. This misalignment leads to certain areas of the brake pad wearing down more quickly than others, resulting in uneven wear patterns. In addition, if the brake system is not adequately adjusted, it can lead to disparities in how force is applied to each wheel. For example, if a brake pad is too far from the rotor or drum, it may not engage as effectively, causing additional wear in parts that are engaging more fully. Proper maintenance, alignment, and adjustments of the braking system are essential to ensure even wear patterns, prolonging the life of the brake components and enhancing safety. Other factors mentioned, like the type of brake fluid or frequency of hard braking, can affect brake performance and longevity but are less directly linked to uneven wear compared to misalignment or adjustment issues. Excessive dust accumulation can also contribute to overall performance degradation but would not directly cause the uneven wear pattern seen when components are misaligned.