Front Brake Rattle - ARGGGGHHHH!!!

[Zilverado]

First off - it's great to be back around again. Life has been pretty busy, and I have had very little time to snoop around. But finally I am driven back by necessity - a good thing (I guess).

Problem - Loose (rattling) inner brake pad on the driver's side front wheel.

Last year I did a fairly complete front brake job replacing everything except the rotors - they still were fine at that time.

Recently, a squeak along with a rattle developed on the left side. I checked it and found the brake pads to be loose and badly unevenly worn from front to back. The rotor seemed slightly warped, so I have now replaced the rotors as well as installed new pads.

Inner pad is still loose and rattle is still there. The inner pad is riding flush with the rotor (no visible gap), but I can push on the pad "tabs" down and it slides back and forth along the face of the rotor - causing the "tabs" to rattle against the caliper body.

So what is going on here? Is the caliper loosening off too much or applying uneven pressure? The retainer clip (inside the caliper piston, holding the inner pad) was not replaced. Could this clip be too loose? Am I missing some hardware?

Below are a couple of photos showing the installation and the area where I can move the pad.

Any help would be appreciated. BTW - it's great to be "home".

[chevydog66]

It looks like that you haven't seated the pads yet. Have you drove it and stomped on the the pedal a few times? Can you hear it rattle when you apply the brakes or something?

[68gmsee]

What do you mean by rattling? Is it like a vibration or squeeling or just plain sound like they're loose?

I agree with the break in but I wouldn't necessarily stomp on them. From the pics, it looks like your rotors are still fairly new. You can still see the polishing marks. This could cause a vibration on the brakes for some time until they're completely broken in.

If they're just loose in there, it could be you are missing some springs that hold them in place.

[d10s69c10]

this might be a dumb question but are you sure they are the right pads? how does the bolts/bolt holes on the spindle itslef look? the rotors straight possibly warped off center??

[Luvlegs]

I'd check the spring clip inside the piston that holds the pad against it.

[Zilverado]

Thanks for all the quick responses. Here's my answers to your questions...

Originally Posted by chevydog66

It looks like that you haven't seated the pads yet. Have you drove it and stomped on the the pedal a few times? Can you hear it rattle when you apply the brakes or something?

I have driven it quite a ways, and hit the brakes pretty good. It brakes well and the right side is quiet. The rattle does go away once I press the pedal enough to start slowing, and since the pad is loose, I assume that's what it is.

Originally Posted by 68gmsee

What do you mean by rattling? Is it like a vibration or squeeling or just plain sound like they're loose?

It is a loose rattle every time I hit a small bump or crack in the road. The rattle was definitely worse when the old pads (which were looser) were still in service.

Originally Posted by 68gmsee

I agree with the break in but I wouldn't necessarily stomp on them. From the pics, it looks like your rotors are still fairly new. You can still see the polishing marks. This could cause a vibration on the brakes for some time until they're completely broken in.

The rotors are brand new and they appear to run true. Like I said above it is definitely a rattle and not a vibration under braking.

Originally Posted by 68gmsee

If they're just loose in there, it could be you are missing some springs that hold them in place.

I believe the only spring is the one inside the piston - which I assume may be too loose. The outer face of the pad has the shim rivetted on (as opposed to clipped).

Originally Posted by d10s69c10

this might be a dumb question but are you sure they are the right pads? how does the bolts/bolt holes on the spindle itslef look? the rotors straight possibly warped off center??

I'm pretty sure the pads are right since the right side is operating perfectly. Everything else appears good too.

Originally Posted by Luvlegs

I'd check the spring clip inside the piston that holds the pad against it.

Yeah, maybe I should look at replacing these.

Thanks guys.

[67shortie]

I think mine does this too, on the drivers side. When I hit ruts, small bumps in the road I get rattling.

When the brakes are applied it goes away so it's time to pull the wheels.

Good luck to you finding the solution

[chevy_mike]

Do you have the brake pad clip on the inside pad?



This should be clipped to the inner pad and then this clip (with pad attached) should fit tightly within the piston on the caliper. This keeps the pad from rattling around.

These spring clips do wear out and loose they "springiness" so you might need to replace them. Good luck.

[jorgensensc]

Originally Posted by chevy_mike

Do you have the brake pad clip on the inside pad?



This should be clipped to the inner pad and then this clip (with pad attached) should fit tightly within the piston on the caliper. This keeps the pad from rattling around.

These spring clips do wear out and loose they "springiness" so you might need to replace them. Good luck.

I was going to suggest the same thing. I would venture that these are missing and will solve your problems.
Shawn

[jkaylor68gmc]

Are there not two sizes of rotor, the hd and the standard. Isn't the HD rotor 1 1/4. Could he have pads for one and a different rotor???

[Zilverado]

Originally Posted by jorgensensc

I was going to suggest the same thing. I would venture that these are missing and will solve your problems.
Shawn

Yes, this is the "retainer clip" I was refering to. I have these, but they are old, and rusty, and quite possibly worn. So my plan now is to replace them with new (to be done tomorrow), and see how things work.

Thanks again.

[Zilverado]

Originally Posted by jkaylor68gmc

Are there not two sizes of rotor, the hd and the standard. Isn't the HD rotor 1 1/4. Could he have pads for one and a different rotor???

Yes I am aware of the 2 different sizes. The original rotors were 1" and that's what I purchased this time around as well. The pads I got were the ones listed for these rotors (at least according to the parts store). The pads also looked exactly the same as the original equipment, so I am pretty sure everything is right.

Hopefully the new pad retainer clips will do the trick...

[don t. - 72gmc]

If the retainer clips are not really rusty, maybe you can bend them out just a bit.

I've never used it, but sometimes when you get new front pads they put some blue goop in a tube. Poke the tube, spread on the back of the pad, makes kinda like a gasket/noise supression type of thing.

HTH....good luck.....don t. .....

[Zilverado]

Yeah, i guess I could try the "bending" thing, but for less than $3 ea. I think I'll just replace them.

As for the "goop-in-a-tube", I tend to use brake caliper lubricant on the moving parts (bushings, bolts, etc.) but that's about it.

I just hope the new retainer clips will do the deed - I'm feeling confident.

[Luvlegs]

MAKE SURE you post up if that was it - it's killling me... just once, I'd like to post "He Shoots, He Scores!"

[Senator350]

uneven brake pad wear... the first thing that jumps to mind is a frozen caliper pin. check that your caliper pins are both well lubed (copper or silver anti-seeze)

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by Senator350

uneven brake pad wear... the first thing that jumps to mind is a frozen caliper pin. check that your caliper pins are both well lubed (copper or silver anti-seeze)

This can happen too but don't use anti-seeze as I have seen it cause a reaction with the rubber o-ring and cause them to swell. They make disc brake pin lube specifically for this use. It doesn't have the possible reaction with the o-rings.

[Zilverado]

Originally Posted by Luvlegs

MAKE SURE you post up if that was it - it's killling me... just once, I'd like to post "He Shoots, He Scores!"

I'll be sure to let you all know. I expect to be doing this repair sometime Friday night or saturday, so I should know soon.

Check back...

[Zilverado]

Originally Posted by chevy_mike

...They make disc brake pin lube specifically for this use. It doesn't have the possible reaction with the o-rings.

If by caliper "pins" you are referring to the 2 long allen-head bolts that hold the callpers in place, yes I lubed these up. I used the purpose made brake lube that comes in a tube. I don't think these are binding.

[PanelDeland]

The Goop mentioned above is anti-rattle compound.It doesn't seem like it would make much difference but it does.I would get some of it and use it when replacing the retainer springs.