sounds like a brake chirping

[oneheavyhorse]

Need help: It sounds like a brake chirping. Any time I'm rolling over 5 mph and less than 50mph. It is non-rythmic, but a random chirping/rattling sound. It doesn't correspond to wheel speed, engine speed, bumps on the road, etc. When I hit the brakes, the sound stops, and sometimes it stops when I making a turn. I've lifted the vehicle, one side at a time, and spun the wheels, but I don't hear the sound. It is quiet for a while after I was the vehicle, but soon starts up again. There is not excessive brake dust nor any scoring on the rotors.

Is it my brake pads? Rotors? Could it be a loose driveline mount of some sort that when I brake it is loaded differently and stops making noise?

It's a 2002 4WD. I have this posted on the Tahoe forum too.

[WEF]

The brake pads have a steel indicator strip that contacts the rotor when the pad gets low but before it can do damage. It makes the noise you describe.

[oneheavyhorse]

The wear indicators are well clear of the rotors, about an 1/8 inch clearance....what else could it be?

[Grh]

Check your parking brake. See the "parking brake issue" thread

[WEF]

Can you tell for sure what wheel is doing it? My rear caliper bound up and I could have sworn the noise was in the front. All the pads were barely worn but this one wheel. Maybe the pad was really heated up at one time. That will make a screech. It has to be a pad if the noise stops by putting on the brake and going around a corner is just enough to to move the pad against the rotor. Good luck and let us know.

[oneheavyhorse]

Thanks guys; I'll give it a look.

[oneheavyhorse]

Update: I pulled the driver's side rear rotor off. Parking brake shoes looked a very little worn right at the leading edge and the rest was about 1/8 inch thick. I did however have a deep score gouge on the inboard side of the rotor. Disc pads looked good so all I could figure is that something got lodged between the rotor and the pad, like a stone or something. I cleaned all the surfaces up with brake spray cleaner and the sound has returned only once and only for a few seconds. It's been a week and so far so good.