Explorerer
Member
- Joined
- July 29, 2008
- Messages
- 13
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Wildwood, Missouri
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2003 Limited
This is my first time to post to this forum. I'm having trouble diagnosing a problem.
There's a noise coming from my left front wheel at a regular interval during rotation. It stops when I touch the brake pedal even lightly. The noise is noticeable up to about 25 mph. I think it's still there at higher speeds but not distinguishable because of the speed.
I jacked up the wheel and used a stethascope (actually a hose stuck in my ear) to find it's exact location, and it seems to be coming from the LF brake as I expected. I'm able to reproduce the sound while rotating the wheel by hand. It's not quite a squeak, but almost. So, I removed the wheel expecting to find an obvious problem with the pads, caliper, or rotor. But I can't see anything wrong.
Here's a summary of my own diagnosis.
1. Brake pads are good. About 3/16" of meat left.
2. The caliper seems to be fully releasing. With the wheel off and engine running I fully depressed brake pedal. Then checked caliper and it was free. I could turn the rotor by hand and there was a small amount of play in the travel of the bracket that holds the pads / caliper. (It surely has a name; I just don't know it.) I don't think it's a bad caliper or blocked flex hose to caliper.
3. I know what a front warped rotor feels like, especially through the steering wheel while braking hard. No symtoms indicative of a warped rotor.
4. I checked for a wornout wheel bearing by driving about 55 and swerving L and R. I know what a bad bearing sounds / feels like and I don't have one.
5. I also checked for a bad CV joint by making hard L and R turns in a parking lot while listening. Nothing indicative there.
6. I thought it might just be dirt and so braked fairly hard a few times hoping to clear it. No change. I've also compared the temperature (by touch) between the two front rotors after driving and they seem to be the same; no excessive heat coming from the left side as might be expected. I haven't changed the front brakes since buying this car. Could it be crappy brake pads? Or just some dirt on the rotor or pad?
Before I started dismantling things I thought I should ask for help. Anybody got any ideas? Thanks in advance.
Steve
There's a noise coming from my left front wheel at a regular interval during rotation. It stops when I touch the brake pedal even lightly. The noise is noticeable up to about 25 mph. I think it's still there at higher speeds but not distinguishable because of the speed.
I jacked up the wheel and used a stethascope (actually a hose stuck in my ear) to find it's exact location, and it seems to be coming from the LF brake as I expected. I'm able to reproduce the sound while rotating the wheel by hand. It's not quite a squeak, but almost. So, I removed the wheel expecting to find an obvious problem with the pads, caliper, or rotor. But I can't see anything wrong.
Here's a summary of my own diagnosis.
1. Brake pads are good. About 3/16" of meat left.
2. The caliper seems to be fully releasing. With the wheel off and engine running I fully depressed brake pedal. Then checked caliper and it was free. I could turn the rotor by hand and there was a small amount of play in the travel of the bracket that holds the pads / caliper. (It surely has a name; I just don't know it.) I don't think it's a bad caliper or blocked flex hose to caliper.
3. I know what a front warped rotor feels like, especially through the steering wheel while braking hard. No symtoms indicative of a warped rotor.
4. I checked for a wornout wheel bearing by driving about 55 and swerving L and R. I know what a bad bearing sounds / feels like and I don't have one.
5. I also checked for a bad CV joint by making hard L and R turns in a parking lot while listening. Nothing indicative there.
6. I thought it might just be dirt and so braked fairly hard a few times hoping to clear it. No change. I've also compared the temperature (by touch) between the two front rotors after driving and they seem to be the same; no excessive heat coming from the left side as might be expected. I haven't changed the front brakes since buying this car. Could it be crappy brake pads? Or just some dirt on the rotor or pad?
Before I started dismantling things I thought I should ask for help. Anybody got any ideas? Thanks in advance.
Steve
In any case, I plan to work on the Explorer later today and will re-check.
