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Loud grinding/knocking when braking


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shelleybeanz
New User

Oct 16, 2006, 10:51 AM

Post #1 of 5 (3670 views)
Loud grinding/knocking when braking Sign In

Hi there,
I just bought myself a 2003 Cavalier and have discovered a weird noise when I brake. When I test-drove it, it only made a slight, quiet grind sound, and only sometimes, when I pressed the brake pedal and I figured it was probably just dirt in the brakes. Once I got it home, I decided to take it out shopping - well when I started off driving, there was the quiet grinding noise when I braked, but as I got braking more and more (in the city where it was 'stop and go'), the grinding got louder and started to knock. It's kind of a knock-grind pulsating noise as I brake. I find that it really only happens after I've been driving for a while, and if I'm in the downtown core where I"m stopping and going quite frequently, the noise gets VERY loud. So loud that at one point, I rolled down my window to see if I could hear it from the outside - luckily it seems to only really make the noise INSIDE the car. The other weird thing is I can feel it pulsing through the brake pedal once it gets really loud.
I took it to a mechanic, who had a look and cleaned the brakes (he said they were really dirty). Then he took it for a test drive and said they were fine, but that is because he hadn't driven it long enough for it to make the noise. Now it's doing it again...

I'm not sure if it's something I should be getting checked out again?? I'd appreciate any suggestions!

Thanks,
Shelley


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Oct 16, 2006, 11:11 AM

Post #2 of 5 (3667 views)
Re: Loud grinding/knocking when braking Sign In

1. You just got the car so history is probably unknown

2. If someone had just thrown in new brake pads and just that it could do this. If you don't feel confident that the car can stop - never mind the noise right now- then get that fixed at once! T



shelleybeanz
New User

Oct 16, 2006, 12:47 PM

Post #3 of 5 (3665 views)
Re: Loud grinding/knocking when braking Sign In

Thanks Tom, I actually went ahead and made an appointment with the dealership to have them take a look at my brakes for me. I also got back an inspection report (and report of work they did) on the car and, interestingly enough, they replaced the following: Front Brake pad, Disc brake rotor, drum and shoes. Pretty much the whole thing, so if I understood your reply correctly, it could be the fact that they replaced these things that is causing the sound? If so, that'd be good to know as they may be unable to correct the noise in that case...


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Oct 16, 2006, 5:05 PM

Post #4 of 5 (3663 views)
Re: Loud grinding/knocking when braking Sign In

Normally it would be considered responsible to replace the drums and rotors along with assorted hardware and of course the pads and shoes.

What can happen and this just came to mind that rust can build up on hubs and must be scraped off or a drum or rotor will not run true. IT GETS WORSE THAN THAT!! IF THAT HAPPENED IT CAN LEAD TO A FALSE SENSE THAT THE WHEEL IS BACK ON TIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I live in a rust belt and the first time that happened to me wasn't even about a brake job -- I had just rotated tires and an hub dropped rust flakes which threw the rotor and then of course the wheel out of true.

That was just doing routine work on the car and that happened! Customer waiting I pulled apart all brakes and cleaned and rustproofed all to prevent that from happening again. THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED BY JUST CHANGING A TIRE!!

That could happen to several different makes of cars so I can't pick on one.

That could be the problem you are having and I don't know of any way to check that out short of takeing everything all apart to see.

Brakes are too important to let this go at any expense. Too important to let this stay this way and yes it can be
fixed, T

PS: Your description is good. The problem is valid. There may be no blame for this but please get an expert tech to check this out now............



shelleybeanz
New User

Oct 16, 2006, 5:34 PM

Post #5 of 5 (3661 views)
Re: Loud grinding/knocking when braking Sign In

Wow, thanks again, I really appreciate your help on this! I will be sure to mention it next week when they take a look and will let you know if it's anything 'noteworthy' once I get it back.

Great forum, it's now on my favorites!






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