Horrible Noise

[davidov]

Hey guys

I havea 94 Camry 4 Cyl, just recently my car started sounding as if something was scraping on the right tire, at first I thought it would just be a rock and I let it go. However a few days later, whenever I brake it makes like a rumbling grinding noise. Then I figured maybe it's not a rock. Anyway today I took the tyre off and looked around seen if I could see anything. Even with the tyre off if I spin the rotor it makes a scraping noise.
I took a look just behind the brake disc (dust guard? (im a bit of a noob to cars etc)) and noticed that the back of the brake disc is basically all dull metal except for one ring close to the center... could it be there's something stuck behind the dust guard hence the shiny ring or is that just a normal thing?

Any help or direction would be cool so I don't pay a mechanic to poke around for 2 hours

Cheers

[somick]

It sounds, like your brakes need to be replaced immediately! You better do it ASAP. Otherwise you rotor will be ruined (if not already!) and it will cost you even more, since you will have to replace the rotor as well.

Good luck,

Sam

[Mike Gerber]

"could it be there's something stuck behind the dust guard hence the shiny ring or is that just a normal thing?"

A shinny ring is not normal. The whole surface of the rotor, excluding the extreme inside and outter edges should be shinny from the brake pads contacting the rotor surface. That's what produces the friction to stop the car. As somick suggested, get your brakes inspected very soon.

Mike

[davidov]

Thanks guys I'll get them checked out saturday, maybe call the mechanic tomorrow and get it done saturday (I need the car to get to and from work tomorrow).

[jdmccright]

Ayup, you need new brakes and probably a new rotor, unless somehow there's enough left so they can resurface it (they call it "turning a rotor").

My concern is that you don't mention any squealing sounds before the grinding noise. If the brakes aren't wearing evenly between the inner and outer pads, then the brake caliper's sliding pins need servicing/replacement as well. These let the the caliper "float" to even out the pressure on the inner & outer pads.

Good luck!

[davidov]

Thanks I'll get them to check that as well.... I couldn't book it in until tomorrow but haven't been driving it, the wheels are constantly squeaking as they turn then grind when I brake, and the rotors look exactly like they did 6 months ago so I don't think there's any damage to them? I've only drove it about 5 or 6 times since I started hearing the grinding and the last 3 or 4 I've used the brakes as least as possible, just letting the car slow down by itself.

But yeah I don't see any difference in the rotor and the wheels are constantly squeaking when driving so does this mean it's just the brake pads?
(I don't have a heap of money to throw around so am hoping it's just the brake pads)

[Mike Gerber]

"whenever I brake it makes like a rumbling grinding noise"

"the rotor and the wheels are constantly squeaking"

In the future, the description of grumbling or grinding can mean two very different brake problems. Please try to be specific in describing the noise. It will help people help you with diagnosing the problem.

Back to your question. As far as replacing the rotors or not, that really depends on the thickness left on the rotors, and how much damage (if any) has been done to them. You may get lucky and they can just be turned. Turning (or cutting) the rotors means putting them on a brake lathe and cutting away material to give them a new surface. The new brake pads need a new surface to seat properly to the rotors. Rotors have a minimum thickness to which they can be machined. If they get too thin, they will not be able to handle the heat created by braking. If machining would take them below that thickness, then they have to be discarded and new rotors put on the car. The only way to tell how much thickness is left on them is to measure them with a brake rotor micrometer. A brake rotor micrometer is a special tool that measures rotor thickness. It has points on each side of it so it can get down to the bottom of the groves cut in to the brake rotor. There is really no way to guess on how much meat (thickness) is left on your rotors over the internet. You just have to trust the people who will be doing the brake job.

Good luck.

Mike

[usedranger]

Originally Posted by davidov

Thanks I'll get them to check that as well.... I couldn't book it in until tomorrow but haven't been driving it, the wheels are constantly squeaking as they turn then grind when I brake, and the rotors look exactly like they did 6 months ago so I don't think there's any damage to them? I've only drove it about 5 or 6 times since I started hearing the grinding and the last 3 or 4 I've used the brakes as least as possible, just letting the car slow down by itself.

But yeah I don't see any difference in the rotor and the wheels are constantly squeaking when driving so does this mean it's just the brake pads?
(I don't have a heap of money to throw around so am hoping it's just the brake pads)

Just be fore warned; if you take your car into a chain brake shop, for a variety of reasons, {liability for one} they will be unlikely to change just the pads. If any part is the least bit out of spec or damaged,{grooved or warped rotors} you are looking at $$$$. Rotors at an Autozone will run you $30-60 each. Pads $15-30 a set, depending on quality. At the brake shop;double that and more for the labor. If your calipers are ok{no leaks} you can probably do the job under a $100 your self. Have you done a brake job before? It is not a difficult job. You just have to have a few basic tools but you may have to borrow a large C-Clamp to collapse the caliper. Plus I am more than sure there is enough help on this forum to walk you through the procedures but you should look at a basic repair manual first so you are familar with some of the part terms and basic task. That way the advice and tips you will get from the experienced posters here will be more understood. Such as, be sure to take some brake fluid out of the resvoir before you you squeeze the calipers. Just some thoughts before you embark on this adventure. Good luck!

[davidov]

Thanks for your help guys,

I took it in today and my brake pads were worn to the metal (lol) and apparently the rotors needed replacing (though they didn't look any different to when i bought the car but ah well)

All in all it cost me $332 which wasn't too bad I thought.

Now however whenever I brake once the car reaches slower speeds it seems as if the wheels are acting as if they are oval shape if you get me. Like it lurches forward a few times and more the slower the car gets. I don't know wether this is just because they're brand new pads and rotors and haven't worn in yet, wether my tyres just need more air or wether they've put the now rotors on wonky? (if that's possible) making the brakes only hit it at certani points?

Is this a real problem or will it sort itself out in time....I don't really know how to describe it other than the wheels seem oval shaped :P

Thanks for all the help by the way

Dave

[usedranger]

Well at least you have brakes Did you get the old rotors back or at least see them? It sounds as if the ones that you have on now are warped or out of round. Do you know if they bled the lines? Its a possibility that there is air in the system but I would bet the rotors are bad or they just did not replace the old ones. A good brake job should not have this kind of a problem. Take it back and insist they correct the problem. Your car should stop in a straight line without the pulsation or feel like you are riding on oval shaped tires. Good luck!!

[Mike Gerber]

I agree with usedranger. There shouldn't be a break-in period as far as what you are feeling. It sounds like one of the new rotors is warped. You will usually feel this pulsation more at highway speeds. Take the car out on a highway and test the brakes in that environment. Chances are you will really feel the pulsation then. I have seen it happen with brand new parts before. I once bought new rear drums and one of them turned out to be out of round. Once you have varified the pulsation, take the car right back to the place that did the brake job and tell them that you are now experiencing "a brake pulsation". This is usually caused by warped rotors. Don't let them tell you it will go away in a few thousand miles. It won't. They will probably say they will cut (turn) them for you, but insist on a new rotor or rotors. You paid for new ones. You don't want some of the life taken out of them by having them turned when they are brand new.

Mike

[davidov]

Thanks for the replies guys,
When I get a day off work I'll take it in, it shouldn't affect anything else should it? Like it's not a huge problem that must be fixed in a hurry?

They are new rotors I know because judging by the look of my old ones and the new ones the old ones must have been ground away by a fair few rocks cos they had like rings on them of different shineiness (not even a word lol)

I'll take it back and ask them to have a look at it. I'm glad you understood my weird way of describing what happens hehe

Thanks Again
Dave

[usedranger]

Glad to know these are new rotors, however are warped in some way. From a safety standpoint there is not much danger in driving on these but if you put too many miles on the rotors they just might say you overheated them somehow and caused the warping. At least call them to get the problem on the record and make an appointment to get the car in to the shop. I agree with Mike Gerber, do not settle for having them turn the rotors. You paid for new full width/thickness; you should get it. In the long run this problem will get worse and shorten the life of the brakes.What kind of a warranty did they give you? Was this a Chain Store or the Corner garage mechanic? Either way you paid for a good brake job just have not gotten it yet. Good luck.

[jdmccright]

I agree with usedranger, you should tell the shop about the problem right away so it is documented...call & make the appointment. If you walk in two weeks later saying you have brake pulsation, they can just say you were too hard on them and not honor any warranty given. Hopefully, it's just an honest mistake, but go back and insist on the correct, new parts.

[davidov]

Hey guys,

So I took it in and the mechanic that did all the other stuff to my car just after I got it (head gasket, oil pump, seals etc) drove it with me in the car and said that yeah looks like the rotors are warped.
They won't give me new rotors but are turning them for free, which is fine with me because I'm goin to be giving my sister this car in the not too distant future. So yeah it's goin in tomorrow so they can sort the problem out.

Thanks a lot for all your help guys, youse are champions

David