Grinding noise when braking - Replacing pads didn't help

[ck1938]

Hi. I have a 91 XLT, 123000 or so miles. I noticed a grinding noise coming home last night. Every time I braked and came close to a stop a grinding noise started. This quickly became more pronounced. I stopped at the parts store and grabbed some new pads. After changing them, including greasing the backs, I am still getting the same sound when I come to a stop. I talked to my dad and he thinks it could be the bearings which I will need to wait until Saturday to change. Can anyone think of anything else that might be causing the problem.. The rotors looked and felt good, it was dark when I changed the pads, and the old brake pads do look like they needed replacing. Thanks for your help.

 

[DeRocha]

Wheel bearings are always moving with the wheels and would tend to make noise all the time, not just when braking. Do you have autohubs or manuals? The wheel bearing lock nut can loosen up with manual hubs.. To check for any wheel bearing looseness you can jack up the front tire and try and push/pull the tire (hands at 12 and 6 O'clock). The wheel should not move at all. If it does then you would need to repeat the push/pull while looking at the ball joints (@ rubber boots) to see if they are moving as well. If they are moving the ball-joints are bad, if they aren't moving then you wheel bearings are bad/loose..

 

[Masterd]

I'm about this as well. I've got a similar problem.

 

[ck1938]

Wheel bearings are always moving with the wheels and would tend to make noise all the time, not just when braking. Do you have autohubs or manuals? The wheel bearing lock nut can loosen up with manual hubs.. To check for any wheel bearing looseness you can jack up the front tire and try and push/pull the tire (hands at 12 and 6 O'clock). The wheel should not move at all. If it does then you would need to repeat the push/pull while looking at the ball joints to see if they are moving as well. If they are moving the ball-joints are bad, if they aren't moving then you wheel bearings are bad/loose..

I did the tire test and there is some play, about a half an inch or so would be my guess. The ball joints didn't move so at least I have that small blessing. I don't think I'd be able to do them on my own with the set up I have now. I'll do the bearings on Saturday morning and let you know if that took care of the problem. Thanks for your help.

 

[DeRocha]

1/2" would be a lot of movement.. Just to be clear when checking for ball joint play you want to look at the ball joint's rubber boot.

 

[RangerX]

and grabbed some new pads. After changing them, including greasing the backs,

I don't understand, grease on the backside of the pads?

 

[DeRocha]

I don't understand, grease on the backside of the pads?

I assume he was talking about adding the anti-rattle stuff to the backside of the brake pads..

 

[bisjoe]

When I had these symptoms a couple of years ago I immediately checked my fronts and found them fine. When I checked the back both had metal on metal, had to replace the rotors. I felt stupid because I checked the fronts often but forgot about the rears, used to them going so much longer. These were original rear rotors and had 95,000 miles on them. Had to also replace the parking brake shoes, the material was delaminating from the metal.