Brake problem.

[Paul Higg]

I was driving today and I noticed a different feel to the brake pedal. When I brake at slow speeds, or brake to a stop, I feel a sort of grinding? It is hard to describe.

No metal squeal as when the pad wear indicator is hitting the rotor. This is a brand new problem.

Anyone have any ideas? It would be most appreciated.

Thanks.

Paul

Sorry about being away for so long but I have some things in my life that need constant attention.

 

[Dustoff529]

Hey Paul!
Hope what ever the issues are they are easily managed....!

Does the "grinding sound" stop with rotation? Does it appear when you are depressing the pedal.... like a Mc noise? Personally I am devloping a REAL hatred for the C4 MC!

WHen I have your wounded
Charlie

 

[c4cruiser]

It's possible that the pads have become glazed and need to be cleaned. Remove the pads and use some 100 grit garnet paper on a sanding block to roughen the pad surface. A light sanding will do.

Check the rotors for any indication of gouging or scarring. It's possible that something has been lodged between the pad and rotor. This can result from something like sand, gravel or pebbles on the pavement being picked up and tossed onto the rotors.

 

[Paul Higg]

Thanks for your suggestions and I will do that in the coming days. As for your questions dustoff it stops with pedal release. And, what is an MC? It is worse at slow speeds and I didn't even feel it at high speeds.

Too many issues, ex-wife, wife who broke her arm in a diabetic seizure, and many others. That is why I have been away. I have a lot of fires I'm trying to put out. I have had to put my entire coolant system hose replacement on hold but in the meantime I am buying every single hose I can, I want all new ones.

Just went over 100K and it still purrs like a kitten. Now for these brakes....

 

[Schrade]

Thanks for your suggestions and I will do that in the coming days. As for your questions dustoff it stops with pedal release. And, what is an MC? It is worse at slow speeds and I didn't even feel it at high speeds.

Too many issues, ex-wife, wife who broke her arm in a diabetic seizure, and many others. That is why I have been away. I have a lot of fires I'm trying to put out. I have had to put my entire coolant system hose replacement on hold but in the meantime I am buying every single hose I can, I want all new ones.

Just went over 100K and it still purrs like a kitten. Now for these brakes....

I think MC = master cylinder.

So the pedal feels different, AND, there's grinding?

No chance the pedal is the same, and you just hear the grinding with the bakes?

 

[Paul Higg]

Well, now that I think of it, yeah, I do NOT actually feel it in the pedal but I can feel it in the car.

It even feels as if it is only coming from the front brakes. With the music off you can hear it too from inside the car. Kind of a very low rumbling sound.

 

[Dustoff529]

MC = MASTER CYLINDER

Charlie

That all most sounds like bearings.... Have you had a look, listen , feel of front wheels?

 

[G Winter]

Front wheel bearing ? Does it pull either direction?My first thought also was debris on the brake pads.Might even be pad shift in the calipers, that is usually only noticed at low speed near stopped.

will offer up a prayer that things work out for you on your other problems.

Glenn

 

[gmjunkie]

MC = MASTER CYLINDER

Charlie

That all most sounds like bearings.... Have you had a look, listen , feel of front wheels?

Maybe rusted front rotors,How long since it's been out of that Damp Ol'Garage,Paul??

 

[Dustoff529]

Dang JUNK! I'm honored! Here I am just an old HUEY driver, you agree with me.. I'm honored to have the nod!
When I have your wounded
Charlie

 

[G Winter]

I have seen a lot of good suggestions come from the huey driver.
When I asked about wheel bearings I hadn't seen your post dustoff. Was asking if that could be it. At times I get distracted and don't hit the submit button for awhile.:L

Glenn

 

[gmjunkie]

Dang JUNK! I'm honored! Here I am just an old HUEY driver, you agree with me.. I'm honored to have the nod!
When I have your wounded
Charlie

Problem is,With my thoughts and $5.00 you can only get a cup of coffee or a half dozen condoms now days!!

 

[gmjunkie]

At times I get distracted and don't hit the submit button for awhile.:L

Thats cuz You,Yoda and Vett Boy are about the only "Ancients" left around here!!!

 

[navy2kcoupe]

Dang JUNK! I'm honored! Here I am just an old HUEY driver, you agree with me.. I'm honored to have the nod!
When I have your wounded
Charlie

Huey.....HUEY.......did I hear someone say HUEY ????

WHUP....WHUP.....WHUP....WHUP.......................
Andy

 

[Dustoff529]

the only thing prettier than that is ALL em flyin!

WhenI have your wounded
Charlie

 

[John Robinson]

Paul

Just for fun take the car out to a deserted road get it up to 45 or 50 and jump into the brakes as hard as you can. Be prepared if the car dives one direction or the other. The purpose of this is to activate the ABS. I have done this on mine a couple of times when I have been driving like an old man and the abs seems to want to be exercised. Actually I have found that the brakes are better behaved if they are put to use occasionally.

As always you and Robin are in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[Paul Higg]

WOW! For some reason I have not been receiving the CAC's e-mails. I received a couple but that's it. I was wondering what was going on!

Anyway, first, thanks for your answers and prayers and concerns.

Yesterday I removed both front wheels and looked very closely at it. I have slotted rotors but they are scored a little, not TOO bad but they need to be turned. The outboard pads look thick enough but the inboards look thinner. According to the FSM this is normal.

Now, when I spun them by hand I felt a LITTLE bit of grit in there, not much. When I spun them they were easy to move but not totally freewheeling. They would stop as stop spinning as soon as I stopped. Kinda tight, a little.

It never occurred to me to put the tires back on and push/pull them to do a bearing check. I looked in the FSM and it had a nice little chart and according to IT they call it a groaning sound and if you follow it all the way down to the x's there's only ONE x in the block! The others have about half a dozen or more. The suggestion was "braking too hard." Which I NEVER do.

If I come to a stop on a straight road with hands off the wheel the car does not pull either way. I have been driving it Junk (it's GOOD to hear from you and you too John ) so when I drove it the other day to a store I noticed it on the way there and back. My wife said she noticed it but she said she didn't say anything, typical woman . Anyway, I am at a loss. Should I remove the rotors and have them turned? I have no idea where to have them turned. Does it cost more to have slotted rotors turned? I have done many brake jobs on other cars in the past and I usually use the C clamp trick to make space in the calipers. This way I don't have to bleed. The fluid level is perfect too. Although it IS a little brown. Should I have it done where they drain and flush the master cylinder?

Questions, questions, questions, and STRESS.

By the way, one of my BIGGEST problems in life right IS my wife. If things do not get resolved it will lead to a divorce. Sorry to dump on ya. :confused

Paul.

 

[Dustoff529]

I would pull the disc off have them "surfaced" (NAPA can do it) BUT give those outer bearings a HARD look, clean and repack with high quality grease (I far prefer to do it by hand!) I think the outers carry a pretty significant load. I woul dsay that if you felt a "little grit" that under the weight of the car adn the dynamics of stopping there's your noise.
No worry about dumping!! My "X just up and left after 20 years 'cause I wasnt "Christian enough!" HARDEST thing I have ever dealt with!

When I have your wounded
Charlie

 

[Paul Higg]

Thanks Dustoff! I actually received this e-mail notification. I was just on the phone with a NAPA shop and they can do the whole job, flush which it needs after 100K, replace pads, and turn rotors. Plus he's gonna check the bearings. I trust these guys because I have taken other vehicles there and they have a really good rep.

Man, I really do appreciate all of you guys' help. You have no idea!

As for the wife. well, I am the Christian and she is kind of but that is not the issue. She lies a lot. But this forum isn't for that. I want to stick to brakes.

When you mention "hard look", without looking at the FSM is it a pain in the butt to remove the bearings?

 

[Dustoff529]

Bearings.. No the outers just pop out when you take the nut off, the inners are held by a seal.. teh NAPA guys will (should) give them a good hard look....

Charlie