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groaning like a bad joke. diagnosis?

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Old Aug 28, 2010 | 12:48 AM
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alienrotor's Avatar
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groaning like a bad joke. diagnosis?

So a while back I got new brake pads and new springs installed. Since then my car has been making this horrible groaning noise in different situations. The groaning noise is kind of like what you hear the movies when a large steel structure is about to fall over. Its not a high pitched squeak, its a low loud groan.

I've tried to recreate the situations:
1) after driving for a bit and stopping at a light on flat level ground, as I accelerate it will groan sometimes
2) after driving for a bit and pulling into my parking spot I then reverse out a bit to drive back in most of the time it will groan
3) when stopped and then turning right, it will groan sometimes

Is it a clearance issue on something?
Is it my differential?
Does my car tell bad jokes and make the world groan?

I've searched the threads and haven't found anything conclusive.

Thanks in advance.
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Old Aug 28, 2010 | 12:55 AM
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I had the same noise after having new pads installed. I know exactly the noise you are talking about.

Mine first happened coming off the track back to the pits.
It was so eff'ing loud, I thought the officials wouldn't let me back on track if they heard it.

It was very intermittent. Wouldn't hear it for a day or two then.....all of a sudden, there it was again. So loud, it was embarrassing.

It turned out to be the new pads. Once another set was installed, the problem was gone and never returned.
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Old Aug 28, 2010 | 07:52 AM
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It's likely one of your rear calipers dragging a bit... is it usually right as your coming to a light stop, or drifting forward? Do you have both sets of spreader springs installed at the rear?
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Old Aug 28, 2010 | 06:27 PM
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@ptrhahn it happens when I move forward after stopping. I have no idea what spreader springs are. I just looked for images on google. I will check later today and update.

Thanks


@94rx7tt what kind of pads did you have?
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Old Aug 28, 2010 | 07:53 PM
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1 question, did you have your rotors replaced too?

Here's what I've found. Some aftermarket pads are actually a little extended out from the rotor. As it wears and gets hot, it created a lip on the pad itself that is actually wrapping around the rotor.

Intermittently, it will groan and squeak really loud coming to a stop or making turns.

What I recommend is remove the pads, and look at the "outer" edge side on the pad that's touching the rotor. If you see a lip there, grind those extra material out and the noise will be gone =). Remember to grind it all the way down though, if not it will come back later on as the brake pads are more worn down.

Hope this helps.

-AzEKnightz
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Old Aug 28, 2010 | 08:30 PM
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There should be two V-shaped springs inserted into the holes on the outside edge of your pads.
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Old Aug 29, 2010 | 12:19 AM
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[QUOTE=alienrotor;10187673 @94rx7tt what kind of pads did you have?[/QUOTE]

Oh, boy. I'd have to do some checking to remember. I had the brake noise problem over 5 years ago. That was the last time the car ran before I overheated and destroyed the motor.

Getting the car back this coming Thursday!
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Old Aug 29, 2010 | 12:32 AM
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alienrotor, mine made the noise when I let off the brakes after coming to a complete stop to. Same exact senario as mine.
The shop that looked at it replaced the caliper first. In my case, that did NOT fix the problem and cost me $$$. Second, they changed the rotor. That did NOT fix it and again, cost me $$$. Finally, they changed the simplest part, which should have been the first thing they changed..........the pads. (If anyone wants to know where NOT to take your RX7, PM me and I'll tell you the name of the shop).

Looking back, I should have tried fixing it myself. Thing is, I use a wheelchair to get around and it's a pain in the *** for me to get on the ground to do work on the car.
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