Here's another newb question. I noticed the other day that, there is a funny sound coming from my car. I'm pretty sure it is coming from the rear.

Its kind of a metallic rubbing noise. Like the rasping of a file, except higher pitch. It also pulsates a tiny bit, but not alot.

The thing is, it is a very soft sound. You can't even hear it unless you use little/no throttle with the windows open. It doesn't happen when the car is stopped, and the pulsating becomes faster at hgiher speeds.

Just a day before I ntoiced this, the brakes started making a whining noise if you release them from a stop when facing up a hill (so the car rolls backwards), but they don't do that at any other time.

What do you think? It thought that it may be a warped disk rubbing on the calipers, but the brakes don't pulsate at all.

Thanks,
Alex

PS, I hope to god it isn't anything serious, I am totally broke right now....

 

BTW, I did search, and didn't find any info

 

anyone?

 

Sounds like some slight brake drag. Clean and re-lube your calipers.

Unless your squealers are touching...

 

I agree. Your brake pads have "stickum" on them to pull them away from the disc when you release the brake. It is a common occurance for the stickum to not stick as well after time and the brake pads could rub the disc in none braking situations.

 

Well, my mechanic took a look and just finished fixing it. I recently bought this car, and the maintenence records say the brakes haven't been done for 11 years. He said that it looks like the last person to work on them didn't do the best job, either. At the thickest point, the pads had 5% of their thickness left, and the noises were from some metal-to-metal contact.

There was alot to be done:
New pads
New hardware everywhere
Rear calipers needed to be rebuilt
New fluid (of course)
New front calipers
Resurfacing of all the rotors

Total: $850.

Thanks for the help guys. I sure am glad I brought it in.

--Alex

 

Dear mother in heaven.. you paid 850 for THAT?!?!

 

i think that the calipers was worse plus on ebay for like 300 you could get stainless steel brake lines 4 slotted rotors and brake pads I bought new rear calipers and they ran about $200. It isn't too bad I bet it all new and clean and plus he feels a whole hell of lot better that his brake are good

 

Too much I take it? I really trust my mechanic, since he has always been very honest. Half the time our cars comes out for less than they originally estimated, and I know alot of people that swear by them, so I didn't really worry too much about it.

And yes, all the stuff is NIB.

--Alex