Caliper movement, Brumby 83

scoobymine · Post by **scoobymine** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 2:48 pm

I've been trying to locate an intermitent noise in my front right hand side.
I've tried everything, all bearings and cv's are new, everything is tight.
This is a noise that is usually when you take off, and disappears at speed.
Months of trying to track it down have proved useless.
I had noticed that there is some movement of the caliper on the pin. I've put a new rubber bush and grease on the pin, and used some brake pad silencer gunk. But it's still there
It really sounds like the pads knocking on the rotor, but who knows.
Does anyone have a clue, warped rotor perhaps? Brake pads are firmly in place.

someguy · Post by **someguy** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 5:39 pm

Mine has the same symptoms.

Has machined rotors, new pads, new CVs.

Almost sounds like something is moving that probably shouldn't be. (mine makes abit of a squeaky/metal on metal noise, barely noticable though unless you actually know what your listening for)

Suspension/Shocks aren't new but still has a lot of life left

It only happens when going less than 5km/h for me (so basically in my driveway)

scoobymine · Post by **scoobymine** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 5:52 pm

Sounds like we both have the same problems someguy!
Annoys the crap out of me. Still think the pads may be knocking, definately a rotation noise but who can tell!
Maybe someone can help us

justincase41 · Post by **justincase41** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 6:49 pm

How is your hand brake adjustment?

scoobymine · Post by **scoobymine** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:20 pm

Without handbrake on, that's when you can feel the play in the caliper. pretty well adjusted up fully. Maybe Rh cable has stretched? What do you think?

justincase41 · Post by **justincase41** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:26 pm

i've seen this before and worked out to be the hand brake cable was worn and streched due to age and fatigue, and causing the pads to move around. Try moving the hand brake lever on the brake caliper and see if there is much movement before the play it taken up. I'm almost certain that the hand brake cable/s are causing the drama's.

scoobymine · Post by **scoobymine** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:38 pm

Thanks mate. I have noticed when i've removed the calipers, it's not much effort to remove those cables. I'm thinking they should be a bit harder to remove (maybe by backing off the tension) I will check it out again. Cheers

someguy · Post by **someguy** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 4:36 pm

scoobymine wrote:Thanks mate. I have noticed when i've removed the calipers, it's not much effort to remove those cables. I'm thinking they should be a bit harder to remove (maybe by backing off the tension) I will check it out again. Cheers

Yeah, let me know how you go with it.

Once you figure it out I can do it too mine :P (not going to play around with it until I know what it is as I will probably brake something else in the process)

I have also noticed that when in reverse/1st in my driveway it almost feels the same driving with the handbrake on and off. The brakes themselves are fine as pretty much everything down there is new but the handbrake is rubbish.

Same symptom for you scoobymine?

scoobymine · Post by **scoobymine** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 1:17 pm

Mate, my handbrake seems to do it's job, although now I think the cables are stretched. If I adjust it up to where the pedal feels nice, the handbrake lever is too tight to apply.
Justincase got me thinking when he said he thought it was handbrake cable adjustment.
Logicaly it seems when the cable is right, the pads are right on the rotor with the handbrake brake off. This obviously stops the slop, and keeps the pads steady. I had never any trouble before I renewed all the brakes, and had the calipers overhauled. Funny the brakes were almost seized and when you'd let the handbrake off it would stay on until you moved. Massive clunk! I'm gonna try new cables mate. I don't think my rotors are warped, but how do you tell. One of us may well solve the problem mate.

Post by **Alex** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 2:58 pm

put the car in nuetral, take the handbrake off and jack up the front(make sure the car wont roll away), remove the wheel and spin the hub. It should turn freely and not rub the pads at all, if the rotor is warped you 'should' hear it rub the pads when it gets to a certain point.

I had this problem with my liberty, where the actual plate that the wheel bolts on was bent(had a weird vibration since i bought the car) causing it to crap two wheel bearings in about 80,000km.

Just a thought as it seems youre drawing straws at the moment.

cheers

alex

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 4:06 pm

Is the noise a clunk sound or a rubbing sound?

someguy · Post by **someguy** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 8:18 pm

RSR 555 wrote:Is the noise a clunk sound or a rubbing sound?

On mine it sounds like more of a metal on metal noise.

Definitely not rubber

Busdriver · Post by **Busdriver** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 8:38 pm

Heres what sometimes happens............. you go backwards and use the brakes to stop, the pads moves very slightly in the reverse direction, then you go forwards and brake again and the pad goes back the other way, making a noise as it hits the other end of the caliper. Mostly caused when new pads are fitted and not quite long enough, can be fixed temporarily with padding the end of the pads metal backing plate with gasket goo or paper and see if that fixes it.
If it does, try to peen over the end of the metal backing on the brake pad with a hammer or make some thin shims up and squeeze in there.
Not saying that this is the problem, but may be worth a try and you would be suprised how many times I saw this problem happen while working as a brake mechanic.

scoobymine · Post by **scoobymine** » Sat Jan 30, 2010 4:06 pm

In regards to RSR555, its a knocking noise mate.
In regards to Busdriver, I see what you mean mate. I have applied goo to brake pads, not enough room to apply any shims. Could the aftermarket pads be a problem? Noticed the old ones were grooved, the new ones aren't.
Cheers guys, pulling it all off for the umteenth time tomorrow.