brake question

[BigRondo]

Yea the noise is driving me crazy. I'm going to have to start at square one and follow all the advice and tips. Thanks again!!!

 

[BigRondo]

I give up!!

I still have the @#$%^& noise! Here is what I have done:

new rotors
new pads
new slippers
new slide pin boots
new slide pin sleeves (1 per side, bottom pin)
wire wheeled the caliper bracket
wire wheeled the slide pins
greased the slide pins
greased the pads where they make contact with the pistons & caliper
greased the slippers where pads slide

I still have the noise!! What else can I do besides putting a gun to my head? This noise is driving me absolutely crazy!!

Thanks

 

[xlt03]

BigRondo,

Assuming that you all looked at the whole assembly carefully and did not see any rub marks, I'm thinking calipers. Most newer vehicles has phenolic (plastic) pistons in the calipers. They seem to hold dirt / debris easier than the metal pistons. If they are originals they may have distorted some and are slow to retract. Remember, it's the square 0-ring in the bore that pulls the piston back. So if slightly distorted piston it'll be more difficult to retract and it'll be slower also. Try replacing caliper.

BTW, my 03 uses organic pads not semi-metallic (I believe it was stock from factory). I know the books at O'Reily's etc, show organic, semi-metallic and ceramic. Semi-metallic makes too much dust. I'm not too keen on ceramics, since I helped a friend do front brakes on 02 F150 truck and in 2 months of city driving (San Francisco) the rotors warped. Too much heat. So new rotors and back to semi-metallic all is well and is now been 2 years.

 

[BigRondo]

BigRondo,

Assuming that you all looked at the whole assembly carefully and did not see any rub marks, I'm thinking calipers. Most newer vehicles has phenolic (plastic) pistons in the calipers. They seem to hold dirt / debris easier than the metal pistons. If they are originals they may have distorted some and are slow to retract. Remember, it's the square 0-ring in the bore that pulls the piston back. So if slightly distorted piston it'll be more difficult to retract and it'll be slower also. Try replacing caliper.

BTW, my 03 uses organic pads not semi-metallic (I believe it was stock from factory). I know the books at O'Reily's etc, show organic, semi-metallic and ceramic. Semi-metallic makes too much dust. I'm not too keen on ceramics, since I helped a friend do front brakes on 02 F150 truck and in 2 months of city driving (San Francisco) the rotors warped. Too much heat. So new rotors and back to semi-metallic all is well and is now been 2 years.

xlt03, thanks for the info. I'm thinking the caliper needs replacing as well. I have had that wheel apart 5 times to make the noise stop with no luck. The thing is that the truck brakes evenly and doesn't pull to one side when braking. I would think that if there was a problem with the caliper that it would pull to one side. Also the noise is present when stepping on the brake. I would think that if the pads are loose then the piston closing would "tighten" the pad and the noise from the loose pad would go away unless the piston isn't closing. But if the piston isn't closing properly I would think the vehicle would pull to one side. Who the hell knows. Oh yea, it doesn't make the noise all the time either. Maybe it's the not the brakes. The hub bearing on that side is new. Basically I have no freakin idea what it is. But I do know that it is driving me bonkers.

 

[muzzymaniac]

Have you checked out your suspension on that side? Maybe as you hit the brakes and the truck leans forward the creak is somewhere in the suspension.

 

[BigRondo]

Have you checked out your suspension on that side? Maybe as you hit the brakes and the truck leans forward the creak is somewhere in the suspension.

Muzzy, its not so much a creak as a clicking sound. Like I said the bearing is new. Maybe the CV joint? It doesn't do it all the time but most of the time. I just dropped my nephew off at practice, about 15-20 mile round trip and it didn't do it at all. I'm going to pick him up now and it will probably do it! Thanks for your help.

Edit: Just got back from picking up my nephew. 15-20 mile round trip and no noise! Who knows maybe that's how this thing is going to end. Wish me luck

 

[muzzymaniac]

I was going to suggest it's a ball joint. They like to click and pop when they go bad. But it's gone......

 

[BigRondo]

I was going to suggest it's a ball joint. They like to click and pop when they go bad. But it's gone......

Muzzy, ball joints are good. The clicking is now only present every now and then. I really do appriciate your help. If I ever find out what it is I will be sure to let everyone know. Thanks again.
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[gomarlins3]

I have gone through the "how to" section and can not find a thread on how to change the front and rear pads. Is there a "How to" with pictures that I can't find for a brake pad change?

 

[BigRondo]

I have gone through the "how to" section and can not find a thread on how to change the front and rear pads. Is there a "How to" with pictures that I can't find for a brake pad change?

I recommend purchasing the Haynes Manual from your local auto parts store. If you plan on doing maintenance/repairs yourself then it will be the best $20 you'll ever spend!!!

 

[gomarlins3]

^I'll look into that, thanks.

 

[BigRondo]

Yeah the Haynes Manual is like the bible of auto repair and it's nice to have as a reference while doing the repairs. The brakes are not that difficult since they are discs. The drums brakes are a real PITA!! Good luck man!

 

[BigRondo]

Noise Update

I have been noise free for 2 months. Don't know why the noise went away it just did.

 

[suzukigod308]

ok well the problem is back. i cleaned and gresed the pins and slides again and after a day the noise is back. im going to try to replace the hardware this time. could there be something messed up with the caliber on my driver side rear?

 

[BigRondo]

ok well the problem is back. i cleaned and gresed the pins and slides again and after a day the noise is back. im going to try to replace the hardware this time. could there be something messed up with the caliber on my driver side rear?

I know this is very frustrating. I was going nuts when I had the noise. I had removed everything at least 5 times and re-greased, bought new hardware, etc. I was beginning to think caliper then the noise went away and hasn't come back. I had no adverse braking while the noise was present. Maybe your issue is something else and not brake related.

 

[suzukigod308]

im leaning towards the caliber. this is the third time and its the driverside rear. the caliber on that side was from one store and the passenger was from another. its only the driverside giving any problems. what else coulde i look for?

 

[BigRondo]

What about the bearing?

 

[suzukigod308]

i dont think its the bearing. it only does it at low speed braking. the bearing would prob make that noise at all speeds. mine only does it around 20 mph and below. i dont know about the caliber i wondering if the one is plastic and the other is metal piston.