Loud brake noise......

Anonymous · January 19, 2004, 12:04

I get, when the cr is cold, a "graunching" noise that is similar to when the brake pads are right down to their bases. I get it all the while. After the car has been running for a while, it almost dissapears. The braking performance is still second to none, so is this me being paranoid, or do I have a fault? I asked MrT to check the brakes when it went in for its service two weeks ago and they said that they can't find ANYTHING wrong with them at all. Still plenty of meat on the pads and the discs are replacements from only April last year, so no major wear.

I have also noticed recently (and I have NO idea whether this is related to the above) that if my car has been standing for a couple of days maybe (its not garaged, much to my annoyance s:evil: :evil: s:evil: ), as soon as I move afer releasing the handbrake, there is a very loud "clunk". It sort of sounds like its coming from the front, but I have had a similar sound on my Mk1 when the rear brake caliper started to cease and the the pads were against the discs. Not sure whether they were stuck or not, but the caliper was and made a similiar noise.

Like I said, MrT said they couldn't find ANYTHING wrong with the brakes at all. They did a full test and said they all was in healthy order.

Do others get these sounds, or do I really have a problem?

I must stress though that the performance of the brakes is still excellent and I don't think anything I have reported here is TOO detrimental to the car. I just want to know if I should be nipping something in the bud before it gets too bad.......

Slacey · January 19, 2004, 12:08

No, I get these noises too. The discs rust when wet, and with the handbrake applies, they 'glue' themselves on with the rust, moving breaks them free, thus the clunk noise.

As for the 'graunching', this seems to be pretty random with mine, but I reckon it's atmospheric; in that it only happens in certain conditions.

Anonymous · January 19, 2004, 12:13

The grinding is again due to bits of rust on the disc - all normal as far as im aware.

Slacey · January 19, 2004, 12:18

Quote from: "krisclarkuk"The grinding is again due to bits of rust on the disc - all normal as far as im aware.

Anonymous · January 19, 2004, 12:54

Hey John.

I get the "graunching" too, but it's just recently started to become audible.

I had all new discs and pads about 6 months ago under warranty, so can't be excessive wear... car is re-booked in for the end of the month (I had flu last week and missed the appointment!), so I'll ask them to look at mine while they're at it.. just for a second opinion.

Braking performance still seems to be OK though... it's the "graunching" noise from front wheel bearings I'm rather worried about at the mo!

Tim

Anonymous · January 19, 2004, 12:55

Fair enough. Pretty much what I thought to be honest, but I thought I had better check, just in case. Cheers guys!!! s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

crankshaft · January 19, 2004, 15:19

My rear brakes squeal when I am reversing, but are fine when moving forwards.

Is this a sign of the pads wearing (12,000 miles) or is it a common problem ??

CrankShaft ==_=_=_=_==

Tem · January 19, 2004, 15:22

The pads have this metal tab that contacts the discs when they wear enough (and cause a VERY loud squeal). That usually starts to happen under heavy braking first...so it's probably something else in your case.

Slacey · January 19, 2004, 15:28

Also I've covered over 20k with plenty left on the pads, so yours should be fine, wear wise.

Anonymous · January 19, 2004, 16:11

Completely on topic here !

Remember you guys moaned at us about the use of our 2, and we have left the focus sitting outside since December 31st!. Well used the focus at the weekend and whilst the brakes still work, they judder through the brake pedal.

I think this is because the disks have rust on them, the guy at A1 Autocentre reckoned it should clear itself, but if not then its new disks. Just called Ford, yet another think that isnt covered on their warrenty, even though I told them I am having all 4 slightly rusty disks replaced under toyota warrently.

Anyway, you are all to chip in if they dont clear themselves...how long should I drive it like this until I know they wont clear. Like I said, the brakes work, but the juddering pedal is highly off putting!.

Anonymous · January 19, 2004, 16:37

I don't think there is any reason to take it easy with your Focus to be honest Craig. Unless they really are beyond repair. But any type of braking while the rust is still on them should clear it pretty quickly. But if the disc is pitted now due to rust, then that is another matter altogether and maybe you should take care then as you will have damaged the integrity of the disc itself. If not, then carry on and hopefully the judder should go away fairly soon. If not, then there is something else wrong. But drive normally. Won't do any harm.....

Anonymous · January 19, 2004, 16:43

just out of curiosity i have just had my brake discs replaced under warranty(so has sean if im not mistaken) i now get the same but only after i wash my wheels(the clunk when pulling away) and the clunking sound before the car comes to a complete stop.
i wonder if it has something to do with the new discs?apparantly sean was telling me that they have changed the centre of the disc to stop it corroding???
again toyota said that there wasnt anything wrong when i took it in,but no problems with breaks apart from noise.

Anonymous · January 19, 2004, 16:44

Cool, thanks for the advice. We are using the focus this week to clear them. The guy at the car place said they had some rust, but shouldnt be anything to worry about. He just said if it doesnt stop they would need replacing.

So fingers crossed.

aaronjb · January 19, 2004, 17:26

Quote from: "cstevens"Cool, thanks for the advice. We are using the focus this week to clear them. The guy at the car place said they had some rust, but shouldnt be anything to worry about. He just said if it doesnt stop they would need replacing.

Or find a nice backstreet garage/engineering shop and have them turn the disks and skim off a little surface - used to be very common until a few years ago..

Of course, you can only do that when the corrosion depth leaves enough meat on the disks..

filcee · January 19, 2004, 22:57

I get the 'graunch' and the 'clunk', usually the morning after I have washed the '2 and put it back in the garage. As Slacey said, the disks and pads get glued together with rust, so clunk as they come apart again. The 'graunch' usually goes after a couple of stops - usually one to get off the drive and one to stop at the bottom of the hill (always have to remember the brakes are cold and rusty, though!). AFAIK, this is all normal if the disks/pads have plenty left on them.

Tem · January 19, 2004, 23:51

Quote from: "filcee"I get the 'graunch' and the 'clunk'

There's actually a TSB for the clunk...
m http://www.planetkc.com/rande/tsb/Br004-00/Br004-00.htm m

Apparently you just need some grease on the sides of the pads to get rid of the clonking. I have it as well, but it doesn't really bother me, so I haven't bothered to try this.

Anonymous · January 20, 2004, 06:45

Tem, you sure they're talking about the same thing there?

Tem · January 20, 2004, 07:19

Quote from: "phil4"Tem, you sure they're talking about the same thing there?

Not sure, but I think so...

The 'clunk' that is...not the 'graunch'...

Anonymous · January 20, 2004, 07:28

If it's anything like the one I get when the brakes have rusted on, it's one hell of a clunk, much more than a click. And it coincides with the car being "released", and jerking backwards.

Still, stuff like that isn't going to do any harm s:)

s:)

Slacey · January 20, 2004, 07:59

If it makes anyone feel better, I had all the symptoms this morning, it has rained the last couple of days and the car hasn't been used for a few days. It wasn't particularly 'glued on' though, as Phil said, it's a lot worse when you have washed the car and deliberately got the discs wet.

mph · January 20, 2004, 08:22

Quote from: "Slacey"Also I've covered over 20k with plenty left on the pads, so yours should be fine, wear wise.

s:shock: :shock: s:shock:
I'm lucky if I get 8,000 miles out of a set. s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

Slacey · January 20, 2004, 08:32

Quote from: "mph"I'm lucky if I get 8,000 miles out of a set. s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

Yes Martin, but you're... special s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

Peter Laborne · January 20, 2004, 11:56

Quote from: "Tem"Apparently you just need some grease on the sides of the pads to get rid of the clonking.

This isn't the clonking it is on about (which happens when the disks rust onto the pads and act as a glue). It is discribing when the pad mecanism moves a little and you get a click. Imagine you are reversing out of a parking space and apply the brakes. As the disk is travelling in a rearwards direction when you put on the brakes the pads will be 'pulled' in a backwards direction. Now you move forwards and press the brakes, the pads will be 'pushed'.....even though very slightly. Now this may be enough to create a click sound. A bit of grease and the sound goes.

So that explains the 'clonk' and the 'click'. But what about the 'graunching' sound. Here's my theory and theoretical cure. IMO it's down to the anti-squeal spring. When the weather is colder it becomes less flexable, hence why we hear the noise....and why it disappears when the car is warmer (well, when the brakes are warmer). The cure, a bit of grease on the spring and surrounding area.

Tem · January 20, 2004, 11:59

Quote from: "Peter Laborne"Now this may be enough to create a click sound. A bit of grease and the sound goes.

It is enough to make a click/clunk and I only meant it for that one s8)

s8)

Anonymous · September 21, 2005, 01:47

I just expericned the clunk today after a good car wash yesterday night. You guys are great and this thread more than answers my queries s:)

s:)

But apply grease on teh brake pads? Wouldn't this compromise your braking? I don't get this point though....