Help! Brake Noise

[dogfish246]

Ok, my brakes work great, but the front left brake (well, I think it is the brake system) makes a slamming/hammer noise when I first press on the brakes. It sounds like the brake pads clapping against the rotors, but Im not sure.

Then when I drive under 40mph I can hear what sounds like something loose in the front wheel area. It makes this constant clapping noise that I can sometimes feel with my foot (my left foot that rests on the floor/side of the foot-well). Then when I put any pressure on the brake it makes the "hammer" noise and stops the "wobbling" noise.

If I put my foot on the brake and make the clapping noise, I cannot reproduce that noise unless I drive my car for a few feet. If the car doesnt move, when I apply the brakes for a second time, it sounds normal.:confused


I hope this is clear. If anyone can help or suggest what they think that would be helpful. This only happens to the front left brake. It still stops straight with no vibration.

 

[TWISTERUP]

Warped rotor/ loose caliper ?

May be stating the obvious but, I'd remove the suspect wheel and check the bolts which hold the caliper in place for tightness, check the pins and hardware which hold the brake pads in place and spin the brake rotor and look for cracks etc. Or could be a extremely warped rotor, the high and low spots in a warped rotor could make a "whishing" sound rubbing against the brake pads while driving (no braking) and then sorta Hammer/thump when brakes are applied against the high and low spots. Have you had any wheel/tire or brake work done recentlly. Sometimes if a wheel is not torqued correctly a "hot" rotor can be warped. Either way I would not feel good about driving until the problem was corrected, from your description it sounds pretty severe.

 

[So Bay Vetter]

My 2 sense is that you have a bad bushing in the upper or lower A arm (control arm) assy.
If that's it, check out "101 Projects for your Corvette" for the fix.

 

[jrp]

First thing to check is to make sure that the pads have the anti-rattle clips installed. They are one of the pieces of hardware which were referred to, and their keep the pad/caliper assembly from moving up & down in the mounting bracket.

 

[dogfish246]

First thing to check is to make sure that the pads have the anti-rattle clips installed. They are one of the pieces of hardware which were referred to, and their keep the pad/caliper assembly from moving up & down in the mounting bracket.

Thank You SOOOO much for the pic! It helps a lot. I have to check it out (maybe tom because it is supposed to be nice out! Thank you everyone for taking their time and helping me out; it is much appreciated!