Brake pad shifting in caliper

[NomzMatter]

So I've been playing chase the noise on the wife's '04 GX. First was the creaky LCA (new bushings/balljoints solved it - don't recommend ever doing this, just buy the whole arm).

But now, I'm left with with the brake pad shifting in the caliper and making a marvelous metal on metal slapping noise. 100% repeatable noise and can see the pad shift. The pads all have the retaining clips and anti-squeel shims.

Any solution other than new pads? Maybe worn caliper pins? If it's new pads, Akebono like most other Toyotas?

 

[phishtaco]

Stuck caliper?

 

[GXO]

Do you have pins and spring clips installed? I added another set of spring clips. If it is still doing it it could be a starting to freeze caliper.

 

[captainva]

That also happened in my 02 GS300 after I upgraded to the Supra TT brakes. It could also be the brand of pads that you're buying. The cheaper ones are often times a touch small and make that clicking noise when they shift in the caliper. The Stoptech pads I had all made that noise but the EBC pads I have now fit perfectly and are silent and smooth.

Also while that click noise is annoying its totally harmless and doesn't affect brake performance at all. Just make sure its not a frozen caliper because that is not good for a multitude of reasons.

 

[NomzMatter]

Do you have pins and spring clips installed? I added another set of spring clips. If it is still doing it it could be a starting to freeze caliper.

Pins and clips installed, top and bottom, even bought new spring clips just in case the old ones were unhappy.

 

[NomzMatter]

That also happened in my 02 GS300 after I upgraded to the Supra TT brakes. It could also be the brand of pads that you're buying. The cheaper ones are often times a touch small and make that clicking noise when they shift in the caliper. The Stoptech pads I had all made that noise but the EBC pads I have now fit perfectly and are silent and smooth.

Also while that click noise is annoying its totally harmless and doesn't affect brake performance at all. Just make sure its not a frozen caliper because that is not good for a multitude of reasons.

Brake performance is great, and if it was a small click, the wifey wouldn't care. Unfortunately it's not that small of a click. Hopefully it's just the crappy pads that were on there when we got it. Had to change out an LCA and UCA that had been put in by the previous owner. Looked like one of those $100 sets of UCA/LCA off ebay. Would make sense there's crappy pads in there too.

If pads don't solve it, can always spend a saturday morning and rebuild some calipers.

 

[captainva]

Rereading your initial post, if its not a small click from the brake pads shifting very slightly forward and back in the caliper when braking its probably a frozen caliper. You can test if there is some play front and back on the pad with your finger

 

[runningdrew]

So I've been playing chase the noise on the wife's '04 GX. First was the creaky LCA (new bushings/balljoints solved it - don't recommend ever doing this, just buy the whole arm).

But now, I'm left with with the brake pad shifting in the caliper and making a marvelous metal on metal slapping noise. 100% repeatable noise and can see the pad shift. The pads all have the retaining clips and anti-squeel shims.

Any solution other than new pads? Maybe worn caliper pins? If it's new pads, Akebono like most other Toyotas?

I would agree with @Vlad check our brake caliper pistons. Are the brake pads sliding up and down along the direction of the wheel spin, or are they moving in and out, parallel to the axle?

 

[Jstawgn]

My wife's car got this problem and it end up the aftermarket brake pads are a bit undersize. I put new brake hardware kit that come with thin shim an the problem went away.

Duralast Brake Disc Hardware Kit H5850

Shop for Duralast Brake Disc Hardware Kit H5850 with confidence at AutoZone.com. Parts are just part of what we do. Get yours online today and pick up in store.

m.autozone.com

 

[NomzMatter]

I would agree with @Vlad check our brake caliper pistons. Are the brake pads sliding up and down along the direction of the wheel spin, or are they moving in and out, parallel to the axle?

Up and down with wheel spin. The noise/movement can be recreated through applying brakes and changing from reverse to drive/drive to reverse, then applying brakes again. Also happen over time if I'm driving and haven't braked for a bit and the pad has (I assume) settled back to the lower part of the caliper.

 

[NomzMatter]

My wife's car got this problem and it end up the aftermarket brake pads are a bit undersize. I put new brake hardware kit that come with thin shim an the problem went away.

Duralast Brake Disc Hardware Kit H5850

Shop for Duralast Brake Disc Hardware Kit H5850 with confidence at AutoZone.com. Parts are just part of what we do. Get yours online today and pick up in store.

m.autozone.com

Thanks, I was looking for one of these. For some reason, when I looked up the hardware kits all I could find were the standard spring clips/pins. But then...probably because I didn't check Autozone...hate going there, the ones around here are terrible.