Brake tick

Butt Ugly Chuck · 09-29-09, 02:00 PM

Hi all,
I'll start by saying my brakes perform flawlessly! Completely stock setup running tiny stock tires. But....

I get this metallic noise when I first apply my brakes, even with very light pedal pressure. In the strictest of technical terms, it's more of a 'tick' than a 'clunk'. One 'tick' per application of brake pedal. I can only hear the noise at slow speeds and it doesn't take much speed at all. It probably occurs at higher speeds but it's soft enough to be masked by tires/tranny/etc. Does not occur unless I'm rolling so it's hard to diagnose as I can't replicate the noise while under the rig or under the hood.

I've inspected the sway bar links and they're OK. I've not disassembled the spring packs, but externally I can find no cracks. Nothing I can grab and pull on or shake feels loose or out of place. I had my daughter drive by very slowly and lightly apply brake pressure and it sounds like it comes from the master cylinder area, though nothing appears out of place there either.

I'm happy with their performance, but brakes are too critical a system to ignore irregularities. Anybody had similar experience? Thoughts?

Butt

dgangle · 09-29-09, 02:13 PM

Before going minitruck FDB I ran the MAF kit...yea, yea, I know....

With the MAF kit I had a clicking sound in the front only that was most noticeable a low speeds and would go away with a light application of the brakes. What was happening was the slight variation on the runout of the rotors would literally 'lift' the pads in the Wilwood calipers. Once the high spot traveled past 12:00, the pads would fall back in the slots, probably no more than 1/16" making an audible noise.

I fixed this short-term by purchasing an assortment of springs (aprox 1/4" OD X 2"long) and put them through the pins attaching the pads to the caliper which pushed the pads outward away from the rotor eversoslightly mimicking the function of the clips used on OE Toyota caliper. I fixed it long term by going minitruck parts and selling the MAF kit. Believably, MAF and Wilwood were no help whatsoever and claimed to never experienced this phenomena. The final straw was when I needed a rebuild kit for the Wilwood calipers and Wilwood told me they and all parts for the 4 piston sand-cast caplipers were discontinued.

Spike Strip · 09-29-09, 02:19 PM

It's probably the Brake Pad hitting the caliper when you stop. Make sure all your anti-rattle springs are in there, and good... Or try using some of that spray on crap on the pads. That's what it took for mine to stop the tick... But it came back after a few months when the spray on crap dried... I then moved to 4runner calipers so the issue was moot.

But I was going to get new pad pins as the next step.

Edit: The caliper that would "Tick/clunk" also turned out to have a sticky-frozen piston, that's why I went to the 4R calipers.

Butt Ugly Chuck · 11-06-09, 01:35 PM

I hate those threads that hang out there with no follow through to solution so thought I'd update this one. I just rebuilt my knuckles and replaced rotors/pads while I was in there. Anti-rattle springs were good and nothing looked amiss. Post rebuild though, my brake tick is gone! I can't say I know exactly what the cure was, but I'm glad it's gone.

Butt

Spike Strip · 11-06-09, 01:38 PM

Huzzah !

miker · 11-06-09, 05:44 PM

I hate those threads that mysteriously find a solution to a problem but the fix can't be identified.

rchalmers3 · 11-06-09, 06:54 PM

Rotor run out could have been causing that, making the caliper flex on its mount, causing a click or creak. So yes, you sure eliminated the rotor run out and have quiet operation!

Well done!

Rick

Butt Ugly Chuck · 11-06-09, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rchalmers3

Rotor run out could have been causing that, making the caliper flex on its mount, causing a click or creak. So yes, you sure eliminated the rotor run out and have quiet operation!

Well done!

Rick

That makes sense. Whatever it was, I don't miss it!
Butt

rchalmers3 · 11-06-09, 08:00 PM

BUC,

Did you ever find a solution for your parking brake cable bell cranks?

Rick

Butt Ugly Chuck · 11-07-09, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rchalmers3

BUC,

Did you ever find a solution for your parking brake cable bell cranks?

Rick

Not yet. I do have a line on some replacements though from orangefj45. I'm going to see him for a transfer case rebuild kit and probably some thirds. Just need to work out the logistics. My bell cranks are currently working OK, but will undoubtedly freeze up again if I ignore them too long.

Butt

blurr1604 · 11-07-09, 02:20 AM

i have the same issue on my BJ71, definately coming from the front, symptoms are exactly as you described, going to put new pads and rotors in, i think they are due anyway hopefully that fixes it

brian · 11-07-09, 06:16 PM

before you pull the old pads. jiggle them. the set i have on now has enough slop between the pads and pins that depending how hard i apply the brakes the noise is either a tick with lite applications, to a clunk if i jump on the binders quickly and firmly.

rchalmers3 · 11-07-09, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian

before you pull the old pads. jiggle them. the set i have on now has enough slop between the pads and pins that depending how hard i apply the brakes the noise is either a tick with lite applications, to a clunk if i jump on the binders quickly and firmly.

Do you have the wire springs installed? The springs are designed to pre-load the pads against the pins to prevent this.

Rick