fishsponge's ongoing thread of problems!

[fishsponge]

This thread started out as a simple question, but has now turned into an on-going thread of questions and problems as my Disco 1 is slowly improved (and repaired) and my skills and number of tools slowly increase!

Enjoy...

2 days ago I had new front brake pads. My front-right caliper was sticking too, but the garage checked it over (presumably) and said it was fine.

Since then (although it could be unrelated), when i corner to the left (when approaching a roundabout, for example) I can hear a scraping noise. It's not constant and it doesn't happen allthe time.

It sounds like a brake catching.... "scrape, scrape, scrape....."

So... Any ideas??

 

[njh2]

Hi.

A quick inspection is in order!

Jack up the front end and give the wheels a spin on the left lock, but take your time. Also look for shiney metal where parts are rubbing, check that the pads are seated properly and that no stones are trapped .

With the wheels off the floor (front) you should find it easy enough.

Nick.

 

[battenberg]

are all your wheel bearings sound?

 

[fishsponge]

so... no idea about the wheel bearings or anything else yet. i'll jack up the front end and check all that in the daylight tomorrow!

On my way home tonight, however, I noticed that it only happens sometimes. On most corners everything's fine. On some left-handers the noise is there. When I brake around the corner, the noise seems to go away.

So either the brakes are altering the balance of the wheel, for example, or it's brake related.

When I accelerate around a corner, it's hard to know, because the noise of the revving engine masks anything else, of course!

Also, if I corner gently, the noise is not there. Also, if I corner really hard (like an idiot), the noise is also not there. It's only when cornering at the right speed, and at the right angle, if you know what i mean.

Even then it doesn't always make the noise.

On a possibly related note, what do you make of the attached photo? Desperately needs replacing? not too bad? could it be causing the noise i'm describing?

 

[thought it was mine!]

pads low rubbing lip on disc can cause noise like this and when turning.

 

[fishsponge]

The first line of my first post says "2 days ago I had new front brake pads"..... so they shouldn't be low already!

 

[storm99]

The first line of my first post says "2 days ago I had new front brake pads"..... so they shouldn't be low already!

But have you driven 8 thousand miles in the last 2 days? Its a fair question.

 

[thought it was mine!]

The first line of my first post says "2 days ago I had new front brake pads"..... so they shouldn't be low already!

missed that bit sorry ok is ther a **** plate behind disc they can rub, did you disturbed **** rust flakes stuck in pads, caliper.

 

[thought it was mine!]

sorry just read thro this again with caliper being stuck would double check that as wat you say you dont seem fully trusting of garage like did they strip it, clean it up and use copper slip putting slides back in?

 

[fishsponge]

There is a "**** plate", yes. God knows whether it's been disturbed by the garage though.

As for the caliper, they did not rebuild it. They just gave it a bit of a clean and said it was fine.

Surely brakes and the "**** plate" shouldn't be affected by steering or suspension though...

 

[thought it was mine!]

but if **** plate bent it can rub when turning had this happen on a few cars i have had.as for caliper they might of just unstuck it as a quick fix only for it to jam in use.

 

[fishsponge]

I'll check the dust plate tomorrow then!

As for the brakes sticking, why would the right caliper only stick around certain LEFT hand bends?

 

[thought it was mine!]

I'll check the dust plate tomorrow then!

As for the brakes sticking, why would the right caliper only stick around certain LEFT hand bends?

the caliper might be sticking a when you turn the disc will move a small amount giving the noise i would check as the garage mentioned this prob, so start ther first then work out from that.

 

[Mr Noisy]

Well yeah, if you only get a noise sometimes, there must be some movement.

The first indication is loose bearing, so the hub moves slightly when cornering. However, you wouldn't expect the pads to make a particular noise cos they don't make a noise when you brake very lightly do they.

Mud shields make a lot of scrape noise when they contact, but there's no particular reason why it would only contact when going left!

Inspection is definitely necessary, but the chances are you'll find it easily. I often get issues like this at work (1 in 20 get noisy plates maybe) and usually it just wants bending out the way.

Or as above it could be that bearing.

Cheers

 

[Richard Martin]

so... no idea about the wheel bearings or anything else yet. i'll jack up the front end and check all that in the daylight tomorrow!

On my way home tonight, however, I noticed that it only happens sometimes. On most corners everything's fine. On some left-handers the noise is there. When I brake around the corner, the noise seems to go away.

So either the brakes are altering the balance of the wheel, for example, or it's brake related.

When I accelerate around a corner, it's hard to know, because the noise of the revving engine masks anything else, of course!

Also, if I corner gently, the noise is not there. Also, if I corner really hard (like an idiot), the noise is also not there. It's only when cornering at the right speed, and at the right angle, if you know what i mean.

Even then it doesn't always make the noise.

On a possibly related note, what do you make of the attached photo? Desperately needs replacing? not too bad? could it be causing the noise i'm describing?

I'd say it needs replacing

 

[fishsponge]

I'd say it needs replacing

urgently? or in the next year or two?

if I leave it for ages before doing it, what are the potential consequences? Will it damage anything else because it's so corroded?

...and as for the scraping noise, i agree that it doesn't seem like the brakes (why would they only do it sometimes, and why do they make no noise when I brake lightly?).

It also doesn't seem like the dust guard, because why would it scrape only when I went left?

But maybe it's not the bearing, because why would it only make the noise on 10% of the left hand bends I take?

To be honest, I could ponder what it is for ages. I think I just need to wait until tomorrow to jack it up and just check for play in everything...

 

[buckshot]

i'd say it's the wheel bearings had the same with my 90 last year starts out intermitant then gets worse just before yer wheel/hub falls off

 

[fishsponge]

OK, so let's assume it's wheel bearings... how can I check the wheel bearing specifically? get someone to hold the steering wheel at full lock and try to wobble the wheel?

Is it a hard job to do for a novice mechanic? is it a cheap repair? i'm guessing not...

 

[thought it was mine!]

OK, so let's assume it's wheel bearings... how can I check the wheel bearing specifically? get someone to hold the steering wheel at full lock and try to wobble the wheel?

Is it a hard job to do for a novice mechanic? is it a cheap repair? i'm guessing not...

mate you can hear wat side yes?keep it simple wait till tomoz take wheel off and have a look dont jump in at the deep end.spin wheel turn steering spin wheel see if it happens if no luck dig deeper could be something stupid

 

[Mr Noisy]

Check to see if the wheel wobbles up and down. If at all your bearing is loose.

Spin the wheel, if you can hear/feel any notchy or roughness the bearings are shagged, if still very smooth then can probably be tightened up.

That swivel ball looks knackered btw!