I had new front calipers, pads and rotors installed ~5k miles ago. They were installed by the Toyota dealership near me and were problem free for ~4k miles. Recently, however, they've started to make a scraping (not quite metal on metal, but close) sound when coming to a stop at slow speeds. It is especially pronounced when the brakes are cold and does tend to go away after they've warmed up. I've brought it back to the dealer twice and they found nothing. I pulled the calipers myself and found nothing (no etching, stones, etc...). I cleaned the rotors and reinstalled the calipers and it is still there. Brake booster checks out fine according to the dealer and everything has been given a clean bill of health. The brakes work great it's just and annoying sound. Any other ideas?
Brakes grinding
- Thread starter brAvery103
- Start date
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Are you sure they used OEM pads? I bought a junkyard locker rear axle that had brand new brakes (brand unknown) and they made horrid sounds. I swapped back all my old brake parts to this new axle and all was well.
You might pull the pads and look at them. The pads I had that were noisy had a lot of metal stuck on them from the rotor. You might want to lightly belt-sand the brake pads and reinstall and see if the noise is gone or comes back soon. Study the wear indicators on each pad - they may have gotten bent and are touching the rotor prematurely.
You might pull the pads and look at them. The pads I had that were noisy had a lot of metal stuck on them from the rotor. You might want to lightly belt-sand the brake pads and reinstall and see if the noise is gone or comes back soon. Study the wear indicators on each pad - they may have gotten bent and are touching the rotor prematurely.
- Thread starter
- #3
They definitely used OEM pads. This is a dealership I actually trust as I know the service advisor personally. I also have the paperwork stating the pads used. I'll pull them again this weekend and see what I can find. Like I said, the brakes work well, it's just an annoying sound.
Trunk Monkey
Moderator
Checked the rear pads?
- Thread starter
- #5
Yep. Rear pads are good. It’s pretty clearly coming from the front. Specifically the front passenger side. Never had something like this before
I have the same issue. It's clearly in the front. I've checked pads and rotors twice and they check out. I don't have a solution but can attest to this: if you can get used to noise you can live with it without consequence for years as I have. I read some place, perhaps here, that Akebono pads will solve the problem, that they are actually a better fit than OE pads. My action plan on this has so far only completed the purchase of the Akebono pads.
Why are you wasting your time and getting your hands dirty, just bring it back to Toyota and tell them to return it when the noise is gone.
- Thread starter
- #8
This is what I was thinking I would do. At some point I will replace the pads, but not for a long time.
I don't mind getting my hands dirty. I brought it back to them twice and they told me what I was expecting to hear: "everything looks good. We don't know where the sound is coming from". When I took the caliper off myself I was surprised to see nothing out of the ordinary. I'm sure they were, too. Both times.
How’s your wheel bearings? I wonder if loose bearings could cause some strange issue not noticeable during inspection of the pads and caliper.
Land Shark
SILVER Star
Is the noise there only when applying the brakes? If not, check you front diff. Drain and inspect your fluid. Also, like MounaineerLC said check your wheel bearings. Both cheap to do and render "some" piece of mind. I would also check that everything is torqued per FSM. There is a thread around here about brake caliper bolts getting loose
2001LC
SILVER Star
What year, miles and make?
Why did you have front calipers replaced?
Why do you think sound is brakes? Audio may help us understand?
Did they service wheel bearings, while they R&R front rotors? Even if they didn't, some wheel bearing parts are required to be replaced with rotor R&R. Post up parts list?
Did they lube the axle needle bearing and brass bushing, while service wheel bearings.
Have ball joint been checked.
Pictures of front caliper, pads, shim, fitting kit, return spring and rotors are worth a thousands words.
Rotors runout and parallelism, if out of spec. Is usually "felt" not heard, but can't be rules out unless checked.
Sometimes sounds location, very difficult to determine. Make sure to check out rear brakes also. Rear brakes have a lot of parts that often overlooked. i.e. mounting plate and slide pins (with proper grease and amount), boots (always replace them with pad), shim, fitting kit, pads, rotors. Also, oil deflector gasket are often busted, then fall into drum. They make a sound also. This is do to over torquing wheel lugs nuts.
Why did you have front calipers replaced?
Why do you think sound is brakes? Audio may help us understand?
Did they service wheel bearings, while they R&R front rotors? Even if they didn't, some wheel bearing parts are required to be replaced with rotor R&R. Post up parts list?
Did they lube the axle needle bearing and brass bushing, while service wheel bearings.
Have ball joint been checked.
Pictures of front caliper, pads, shim, fitting kit, return spring and rotors are worth a thousands words.
Rotors runout and parallelism, if out of spec. Is usually "felt" not heard, but can't be rules out unless checked.
Sometimes sounds location, very difficult to determine. Make sure to check out rear brakes also. Rear brakes have a lot of parts that often overlooked. i.e. mounting plate and slide pins (with proper grease and amount), boots (always replace them with pad), shim, fitting kit, pads, rotors. Also, oil deflector gasket are often busted, then fall into drum. They make a sound also. This is do to over torquing wheel lugs nuts.
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