94 v6 4runner
the passenger side outboard brake pad was completely gone but the other three pads were fine. The rotor got chewed up from the brake pad backing plate.

Has anybody else had a similar problem?
I'm thinking there might be something wrong with the brake caliper where the outside pistons were getting more pressure than the inside ones.

Brembo rotors and Performance Friction pads on their way.

 

check your calipers

 

sounds like a sticky caliper on the right side

 

I've battled my calipers for years. A high-perfomance, four piston caliper is a great idea for a 4x4 but, IMHO, don't belong on a 4x4. Through four sets of pads, none has ever worn even or not screwed up the rotors somehow. And to rub sand in the wound, older-gen Toyota rotors are not the fastest re 'n' re, despite the fact I have it down to an art-form! Sorry, didn't mean to vent, just had to get it off my chest. Just wanted to say you're not alone.

 

When I swapped my brakes, I noticed the same thing. My passenger side pads were almost totally worn, while the driver side pads were near new. Rotors were fine.

Like said earlier, my guess is a sticky caliper.

 

Holy old threads batman.

I pulled off my pads today and the driver side was ~70% remaining. Passenger side had one at 20% and one at 0%. Of course after compressing the calipers, they appear to be freed up (no noticeable pulling to one side or the other).

Of course to compound the problem, the one pad that was completely worn out was the one that didn't match the rest. i.e. it had no squeal bar. Now I'm wondering if it was a mismatch (and wore quickly, putting load on the other matched pair).

You can imagine how you find our you're out of brake pads when your pad has no audible metal screech alerting you to low pad level.