Wheel & Brake Noise

[BillNick]

Hi all,

I have of course read through the many posts about wheel noise, and the rear brake dust guard issue and although I think I may have a prob with the dust guard I do also have additional symptoms which I cannot find posted by anyone else here yet.

1) For a while I have had a loud clicking or clunking sound from my rear brakes when I apply the pedal at low speed, or more commonly when I am in traffic. So I would coast along slowing in traffic then when I apply the pedal at like 5-10mph I get a "click" from either side, sometimes both sides. Only way I can describe it is as if the pads are stuck and then give way under pressure causing the sudden 'click'. It's only when repeatedly coming on a and off the brakes at low speeds. Could I have sticky caliper? Perhaps the pads are indeed getting stuck inside the caliper and suddenly moving against the disc under pressure? They could be low as I have had the car for 4 years without going near the brakes, if they are low could there be a lot of play inside the caliper?

2) Now the more recent symptom of noise has only just started. It is a constant rotational grinding noise which I can hear even with the window closed which disappears when I apply the brakes. Come off the brakes again and it comes back. The pitch of the grind does sound like thin sheet metal so it could well be the dust guard as so many of us have found. But my question to that diagnosis is why does it disappear when I brake?

Anyone have any ideas? I appreciate there are a lot of threads on this topic, but like I said I haven't seen anyone post symptoms of my kind as yet and thought maybe the combination would suggest a different diagnosis?

Help appreciated as always :-)

[Harry Dunbar]

firsr of all i would jack up each rear wheel and spin them by hand to hear for any grinding noises etc...from experience a clicking noise from brakes ususally indicates the pads are loose in the calipers..is the shims still there or broken ?...try reversing then pulling forward usually the pads click due to lifting in the caliper pad housing...if fitting new pads i would gring off any lips on the outside of the discs...plus check the inside of the discs for signs of scoring etc...hope this helps,,,cheers