Brake noise help? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Russell · 04-05-2005, 02:22 PM

Hey guys!

My 89 has had a nasty rubbing noise while driving it since I bought it. I took the wheel off to check the brakes and found that they had plenty of material left on them.

The rotors were quite heavily surface rusted where the pads don't run, and actually quite hot to the touch (after driving home from school during my spare). I spun the rotor, and it didn't seem to wobble, so I don't think it is badly warped. The sound is coming from the inside brake pad, I think it is constantly rubbing the rotor. The truck also grabs / jerks quite bad when you go to stop as well as pulling to the right constantly while driving. Is there some way that a guy can adjust the caliper to bring that rear pad off the rotor?

Also, when I take corners, my driver's side wheel has a little bit of a rub / squeak. It makes no noise otherwise. I took it's wheel off as well, and all looked good.

sb400 · 04-05-2005, 08:49 PM

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you probably need a complete brake job. You can't adjust the calipers, one is probably hung up.

If it were my truck and had any doubt about the brakes, I would replace the calipers, rotors, and pads as a set. The good news is that brake parts don't get much cheaper than full size Chevy stuff, last time I did it I paid about $15 for each rebuilt caliper, $12 for a set of cheap pads, and about $35 for each rotor, a couple bucks for new grease seals and a bottle of brake fluid. These are US$ prices, whatever that converts to in CDN$ these days. Of course most of the parts I buy say "Made in Canada" anyway!

Not sure what the rubbing/squeaking noise is, but I suppose one possible culprit could be a wheel bearing. These could also be replaced when replacing the rotors since you will have them out. With the truck jacked up under the axle or control arm, can you rock the wheel side to side, in and out, or top to bottom?

Russell · 04-05-2005, 09:25 PM

I'll see what I can do with it. The truck stops no problems (locks em up quite easily actually) but I too don't like skimping on brakes...

jermasaurus · 04-05-2005, 09:32 PM

If it is constantly rubbing, then you most likely have a siezed caliper. Does is smell bad by the wheel after driving a while?
If this is the case, either the piston is siezed in the caliper, or the slides that the caliper bolts go through are siezed.

Take the caliper off and see if you can move the two slides back and forth.

boxrodz · 04-05-2005, 09:44 PM

How's the surface of the rotors and brake pads? I'd also check the condition of the brake calipers. If everything checks out, clean the parts and apply some brake caliper grease on all moving parts (metal-to-metal contact points).

The noise may be a bad wheel bearing. If your rotors check out, replace the bearings.

JAFO · 04-05-2005, 10:37 PM

Could be a bad brake hose. You can't tell from the outside, but they go bad on the inside and hold pressure on the caliper. Also, rebuild or buy reman calipers. Cheap and easy. Also, get new rotors and have them turned, and replace the bearings while the rotors are off.

MylilBowTie · 04-06-2005, 06:07 AM

Mine was doing the same thing. I installed new rubber brake hoses for the front and new calipers, pads where pretty new also. It cleared up the pulling, brake pedal is up better than it was before, doesn't squeak hardly at all and it stops much better too.

May want to also check out the front suspension for excessive wear.

**old Rusty C10** · 04-06-2005, 09:36 AM

like jafo said you could have a bad hose and if youre goin for new pads rotors and calipers whats another few bucks for hoses?

04-05-2005, 02:22 PM	#1
Russell Professional Grade Join Date: May 2003 Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta Posts: 7,915	Brake noise help? Hey guys! My 89 has had a nasty rubbing noise while driving it since I bought it. I took the wheel off to check the brakes and found that they had plenty of material left on them. The rotors were quite heavily surface rusted where the pads don't run, and actually quite hot to the touch (after driving home from school during my spare). I spun the rotor, and it didn't seem to wobble, so I don't think it is badly warped. The sound is coming from the inside brake pad, I think it is constantly rubbing the rotor. The truck also grabs / jerks quite bad when you go to stop as well as pulling to the right constantly while driving. Is there some way that a guy can adjust the caliper to bring that rear pad off the rotor? Also, when I take corners, my driver's side wheel has a little bit of a rub / squeak. It makes no noise otherwise. I took it's wheel off as well, and all looked good. __________________ 1995 Chevrolet 2 Door Tahoe (6.6L LBZ Duramax / ZF6 / NP241 with 1 ton solid axle swap) Last edited by Russell; 04-05-2005 at 02:22 PM.

04-05-2005, 08:49 PM	#2
sb400 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Superior CO Posts: 32	Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you probably need a complete brake job. You can't adjust the calipers, one is probably hung up. If it were my truck and had any doubt about the brakes, I would replace the calipers, rotors, and pads as a set. The good news is that brake parts don't get much cheaper than full size Chevy stuff, last time I did it I paid about $15 for each rebuilt caliper, $12 for a set of cheap pads, and about $35 for each rotor, a couple bucks for new grease seals and a bottle of brake fluid. These are US$ prices, whatever that converts to in CDN$ these days. Of course most of the parts I buy say "Made in Canada" anyway! Not sure what the rubbing/squeaking noise is, but I suppose one possible culprit could be a wheel bearing. These could also be replaced when replacing the rotors since you will have them out. With the truck jacked up under the axle or control arm, can you rock the wheel side to side, in and out, or top to bottom? __________________ '79 SWB 4x4 Scottsdale 350/4 speed '70 Nova 406/M20 4 speed '02 Subaru WRX wagon

04-05-2005, 09:25 PM	#3
Russell Professional Grade Join Date: May 2003 Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta Posts: 7,915	I'll see what I can do with it. The truck stops no problems (locks em up quite easily actually) but I too don't like skimping on brakes... __________________ 1995 Chevrolet 2 Door Tahoe (6.6L LBZ Duramax / ZF6 / NP241 with 1 ton solid axle swap)

04-05-2005, 09:44 PM	#5
boxrodz Until Seventy Times Seven Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Rocky Mountain Front Range Posts: 1,301	How's the surface of the rotors and brake pads? I'd also check the condition of the brake calipers. If everything checks out, clean the parts and apply some brake caliper grease on all moving parts (metal-to-metal contact points). The noise may be a bad wheel bearing. If your rotors check out, replace the bearings. __________________ boxRODz 1983 C10 SWB Fleetside When two halves is gone, there's nuthin left. Two nothings is nuthin. That's mathematics son. You can argue with me but you can't argue with figures. Two half nothings is a whole nuthin...

04-05-2005, 10:37 PM	#6
JAFO Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Roanoke, TX, NOT Lone Oak! Posts: 8	Could be a bad brake hose. You can't tell from the outside, but they go bad on the inside and hold pressure on the caliper. Also, rebuild or buy reman calipers. Cheap and easy. Also, get new rotors and have them turned, and replace the bearings while the rotors are off. Last edited by JAFO; 04-06-2005 at 10:24 AM. Reason: spell check

04-05-2005, 09:32 PM	#4
jermasaurus Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New Lenox, IL Posts: 442	If it is constantly rubbing, then you most likely have a siezed caliper. Does is smell bad by the wheel after driving a while? If this is the case, either the piston is siezed in the caliper, or the slides that the caliper bolts go through are siezed. Take the caliper off and see if you can move the two slides back and forth.

04-06-2005, 06:07 AM	#7
MylilBowTie Right turn Clyde Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 2,911	Mine was doing the same thing. I installed new rubber brake hoses for the front and new calipers, pads where pretty new also. It cleared up the pulling, brake pedal is up better than it was before, doesn't squeak hardly at all and it stops much better too. May want to also check out the front suspension for excessive wear. __________________ 1974 C25 LWB: 454 4bbl Carb / TH400 / 3.73 1992 Camaro RS 305 TBI

04-06-2005, 09:36 AM	#8
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,307	like jafo said you could have a bad hose and if youre goin for new pads rotors and calipers whats another few bucks for hoses? __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

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