clicking sound from rear end???

[Viggen]

Wondering if anyone can help out.

Earlier in Spring when I started to roll the windows down, I began noticing a clicking sound coming from somewhere on my X when I started to slow down from high speeds, or after taking off(approx. 10 -15 mph) The clicking completely disappeared after the speedo reached anything over 15 mph. This sound seemed rotational - the clicking got a little faster once the car was moving faster, slower when the car was slowing down etc. - but it was completely random and did not occur at all times.

This noise was also not very loud - you had to be close to something on the passenger side (like another car or wall) so the sound could reverberate back.

This had been going on for about 9 months without it getting worse or better. I had initially thought the clicking was coming from the front, passenger end, but I had my tech come with me one day and he noticed it was coming from the rear of the X.

My question is two-fold: What the hell is possibly causing this clicking? and Is this something that could be dangerous?

The tech said it might be something along the diff or driveshaft. Every suspension component was checked and everything was tight and in good order.

Brakes on the rear are about 15,000 into its life.

I also remember reading a post from this site suggesting it might have something to do with a clutch pack or the e-brake.

Any thoughts would be helpful. Thanks.

 

[Viggen]

Giving more info here:

It's a 2003 4.0L with 3.55 rear end.

Rotors are stock in the back, but pads have been replaced.

Also have an underdrive pulley, but dont think that could cause something like that

 

[macknos94]

what you gotta do is pull off your rear wheel and remover the rotors. you are gonna find a nice present in there. it sounds like your ebrake pads separated and fell off the plate they are riveted to. easy fix honestly. let us know how it goes.

 

[japracer4]

agreed with mack. had the same problem on my x.

 

[Viggen]

I appreciate your input.

I will try to find some time to get the X in to look at that.

Thanks gents

 

[macknos94]

yup no problem

 

[CALDWELL]

also something to think about...


the random clicking noise could also ( POSSIBLY ) be your BRAKE HARDWARE...

my X has a random clicking sound and i found out from my TECH that my BRAKE HARDWARE is bad... i know its braking components and are a critical part of the X, but my tech as well as a FORD tech said it was not life threatening, but should be taken care of just to rid the vehicle of the noise...


hope this helps !

 

[Viggen]

The shop that replaced my brakes said that they looked over all their own work, as well as all the visible parts of the suspension, etc. All parts were in good shape and on tight.

With that being said, they didnt pull off anything except the wheels to look at the brakes, suspension, etc. I guess they could have been sloppy and just have taken a cursory look around but who knows.

I thank you for your input anyways.

It was interesting though - I tried to check the integrity of the e brake, and had been traveling at about 5 mph when I pushed it slowly down the other night. It sounded horrible, like horrific metal on metal grinding and clunking. Not the kind of sound you would expect from just having the e brake calipers slowly locking up the rear wheels. I was thinking maybe I could relieve the noise or get something into working order by doing it. I never had used or tried the e brake before this time. To say the least, the noise was still there later on. Nothing worse, nothing better.

 

[macknos94]

ok yeah don't use the ebrake till you replace the pads haha. on hills it wont work once the e brake pads fall apart. its def. the pads

 

[Country313]

ok yeah don't use the ebrake till you replace the pads haha. on hills it wont work once the e brake pads fall apart. its def. the pads

Ditto!

 

[clarks2001]

I have a clicking coming from my front end. apparently the axle on the passenger side is bad...from what the transmission shop said. all my brake hardware is brand new so thats not it.

 

[wolderiii]

i had the same "clicking noise" coming from the rear end and sure enough it was the parking brake pads. they fell off and at slow speeds they will hit against eachother/ side of the rotor and make the noise. but when you get to higher speeds it goes away because the centrifical force pushes them agains the rotor and they stop moving.

i took the driver side out and the clicking stopped. my passenger side, though, the rotor is seized to the parking brake housing. anyone have any ideas on how to get them seperated? i have tried pb blaster and hitting rotor with mini sledge and couldn't get them apart.

 

[Viggen]

Im wondering if this is such a problem with these years, that Ford should issue a recall or pay for the repairs. I never heard this about the e-brakes with any other vehicle.

From what people are saying here in this post and in others, I am sure this is what I have.

What is the average cost to repair something like this anyways?

I might want to contact Ford about this and *****

 

[macknos94]

i had the same "clicking noise" coming from the rear end and sure enough it was the parking brake pads. they fell off and at slow speeds they will hit against eachother/ side of the rotor and make the noise. but when you get to higher speeds it goes away because the centrifical force pushes them agains the rotor and they stop moving.

i took the driver side out and the clicking stopped. my passenger side, though, the rotor is seized to the parking brake housing. anyone have any ideas on how to get them seperated? i have tried pb blaster and hitting rotor with mini sledge and couldn't get them apart.

you may have to loosen the cable for the ebrake. i wish i was home i would take a closer look. not to sound like a jerk but your ebrake is released when you remove your rotors right.

the ebrake pads do wear out like belts, brake pads and oil so you wont get anywhere *****ing about it. the pads are a little over 100 bucks for bendix golds i think i bought for mine

 

[Viggen]

you may have to loosen the cable for the ebrake. i wish i was home i would take a closer look. not to sound like a jerk but your ebrake is released when you remove your rotors right.

the ebrake pads do wear out like belts, brake pads and oil so you wont get anywhere *****ing about it. the pads are a little over 100 bucks for bendix golds i think i bought for mine

How do e-brake pads wear out if they are never used?

I might not know too much about this, but it defies logic in saying that they wear out like regular brakes.

I am still glad that this is a minor issue. Looking to get this thing traded in after the winter to either the Fusion Sport or new SHO. Kinda like the Maximas too.

 

[macknos94]

think about all the rust and water that gets in there that helps built rust up. rust weakens metal so parts that rust do go bad. its not common on alot of car for the ebrake pads to split like they are on our trucks. my mom asked me what could be making this clicking noise on her subie. my guess is the same thing on her car so it does wear out and that one of the reasons you can get them at advanced auto along with other parts stores. if you had a warranty on your explorer you can give that a try but more then likely you will have to pay for your new pads anyways

 

[wolderiii]

the parking brake was not engaged when i tried to take the rotor off. however, i did not loosen the parking brake cable/spring. the other side came off really easy, probably because the pads had fallen off. i don't think the pads are off on the passenger side.
i checked advance auto ($45) and autozone ($52) for the parking brake pads over the weekend.
however, with cleaning the yard for leaf pickup i didn't have time to try to get the passenger side off over the weekend.

 

[macknos94]

well now that you have the one side removed do you still hear the clicking?

 

[wolderiii]

the clicking noise has stopped. however, at 135k i need to put new rotors and pads on. also i was going to replace the parking brake pads while in there.

 

[macknos94]

the clicking noise has stopped. however, at 135k i need to put new rotors and pads on. also i was going to replace the parking brake pads while in there.

when you have the wheel and brake caliber off do the rotor have any movement back and forth? i can't remember if it was my car or my gramps tahoe that had the same issue but i just put gloves on and winggled the rotor back and forth till i figured what it was hung up on. i had to have my wife engage the ebrake while i looked to make sure it was moving free. the issue that made it stick was someone drove with the ebrake on. it made a cut on the inside of the rotor and the pads were getting stuck. i don't know about on your truck but try adjusting the ebrake so it is at its loosest adjustment