My '94 G20t 5speed (127k miles) developed a noise last night.

It comes from the right front brake area and sounded to me like I'd gotten a rock lodged between my disk and the tin backing plate behind it (this happened on a previous car).

After looking closer, I didn't find anything to back up my theory, but while I had the wheel pulled off, I turned the disk several times (by sticking a screwdriver into the disk vents & rotating) and heard a grinding noise with each revolution.

The noise persists when driving whether I'm riding the brakes or not (although the sound alters slightly). I can only really hear it from the driver's seat if I have the windows rolled down & driving near a wall or tunnel, but it's definitely a new noise & needs attention.

Any ideas????? The pads look good, still. Possibly a sticky caliper?.... or ABS? (the ABS finally got some use this past week with the snow we've had).

Your comments are appreciated! -Don Swier

Pull off the calipers and rotate the disc again. If the noise goes away, it's the brakes. If not, i'd bet on the wheel bearings. If you can HEAR your wheel bearings from inside the car, you are Loooooong overdue to have them replaced.

Good luck!

did you get your rotors resurfaced when you got your brakes changed last time? if you didnt and just put on new pads, they will squeal like crazy.

A gorgeous, sunny day here in the NW....... so I took off the caliper on the noisy corner of the car. With just turning the hub by hand there is no grinding noise -so I'm gonna rule out wheel bearing/CV/LSD problems.

It must therefore be the brakes, right?

I'm still able to spin that wheel (slowly) by hand when all the hardware is back on. Would even this be possible with a sticky caliper?

Any suggestions? -Thanks, Don

My brakes used to make a low speed grinding/scraping noise. The pads looked ok so I left it. Eventually they started squealing even though the pads had well over the minimum thickness on them.

When I did change the pads, I noticed that they have a tell-tale pin on them that contacts the disc once they wear down to a certain level to let you know by the noise. Problem solved. Not sure if your G20s have this pin though.

Just something to think about. I warped my 1st set of rotors. I used to take a short highway drive to the car wash back in Jersey and the water spraying those hot rotors while I go through the auto car wash in time damaged my rotors. Nothing worked I changed pads and had the rotors turned. I hope this is not your situation.


:flash:

'Twas just a wee little pebble wedged behind a pad. Don't know how it managed to get there, though. Hmmm.

BTW, Somebody did a nasty hit & run on my bumper yesterday, and I'm not upset ......it's the same exact spot where someone hit me last fall (I took the insurance money then, but elected to just live with the scar.....so glad I waited!)

Thanks for the help, guys! -Don