DaveD

"TeGGer®" <tegger@istop.c0m> wrote in message
news:Xns95F6F3885CF0Bteggeratistop@207.14.113.17.. .
> jim beam <nospam@example.net> wrote in
> news:1107834031.0c98ecb804fba2a3fa885c7cb87d82cf@t eranews:
>
>> TeGGer® wrote:
>>> b1kjpi19 <mnevin@ATsympatico.ca> wrote in
>>> news:%LONd.2054$504.229745@news20.bellglobal.com:
>>>
>>>
>>>>m_prorok@hotmail.com wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>While sitting in some stop-'n-go traffic in my '89 Civic this weekend I
>>>>>started hearing a loud cracking-like noise when I stepped on the
>>>>>brakes.
>>>>>It only happens when applying light pressure to the pedal and I only
>>>>>could hear it during low speeds < 20MPH (though I could be missing it
>>>>>at higher speeds due to raod noise). It also keeps repeating the sound
>>>>>until the car comes a stop or firmer pressure is applied. Any idea
>>>>>what might be causing this and/or how severe it is?
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Brake pads used 100% ... now grinding (cracking-like) metal to metal.
>>>>Check it ASAP ! before you mangle the disc(s) beyond repair and need
>>>>replacement.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> And here's what will eventually happen if it gets ignored!!!
>>> http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/rusty...old_rotors.jpg
>>
>> wow! i've heard of that before, but never seen it. amazing!
>>
>>
>
>
> That was my (divorced) neighbor across the street. She came over to ask
> why
> the brakes were making grinding noises and why there was rust all down the
> side of her van.
>
> I moved the car all of six feet down the driveway and stopped. Six feet
> was
> all it took to tell me EXACTLY what was going on.
>
> I asked her how long have the brakes been making funny noises? She says
> oh,
> it just started. Uh, don't think so...
>
> Dumb thing is, she did just exactly this to the rear drum brakes of her
> Chev Corsica the year before. I fixed those also.
>
> --
> TeGGeR®
>
> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
> www.tegger.com/hondafaq/
This might be slightly off-topic, if so please excuse it. I worked for
several years in a Sears Auto Center and what I have seen would scare the
BeJeezus out of you. One particular incident involved an early 90s model
Dodge Shadow. The lady brough it in complaining of a noise in the right rear
(disks front/drums rear). My brake tech started the inspection, then called
me into the shop. When he removed the right rear brake drum - the entire
assy fell out. That was the shoes, fastening hardware, ebrake er bar,
and the adjuster. The drum was badly scored from the er bar being
between the shoe and drum (for some time). That was the noise she had heard.
The tech then led me to the right front (disk brakes right?). He asked if I
noticed anything amiss - after some looking it hit me - there was NO disk on
the hub. There were no pads in the calipers either for obvious reasons. The
pads had been worn down to metal-on-metal and acted like a lathe and had cut
the outer part of the disk loose from the hub. We found the disk inboard on
the right drive axle. Further inspection revealed that the left front disk
was nearly cut off also. Only the left rear brake assy looked normal. After
I wrote up an estimate the response I received was - "Just put it back
together. I can't afford that much to get it fixed". Fortunately, Alaska law
allows a shop to refuse such refusals. Also, there was no way we could put
it back together in light of the damaged parts.

Dave D

DaveD

"TeGGer®" <tegger@istop.c0m> wrote in message
news:Xns95F6F3885CF0Bteggeratistop@207.14.113.17.. .
> jim beam <nospam@example.net> wrote in
> news:1107834031.0c98ecb804fba2a3fa885c7cb87d82cf@t eranews:
>
>> TeGGer® wrote:
>>> b1kjpi19 <mnevin@ATsympatico.ca> wrote in
>>> news:%LONd.2054$504.229745@news20.bellglobal.com:
>>>
>>>
>>>>m_prorok@hotmail.com wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>While sitting in some stop-'n-go traffic in my '89 Civic this weekend I
>>>>>started hearing a loud cracking-like noise when I stepped on the
>>>>>brakes.
>>>>>It only happens when applying light pressure to the pedal and I only
>>>>>could hear it during low speeds < 20MPH (though I could be missing it
>>>>>at higher speeds due to raod noise). It also keeps repeating the sound
>>>>>until the car comes a stop or firmer pressure is applied. Any idea
>>>>>what might be causing this and/or how severe it is?
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Brake pads used 100% ... now grinding (cracking-like) metal to metal.
>>>>Check it ASAP ! before you mangle the disc(s) beyond repair and need
>>>>replacement.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> And here's what will eventually happen if it gets ignored!!!
>>> http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/rusty...old_rotors.jpg
>>
>> wow! i've heard of that before, but never seen it. amazing!
>>
>>
>
>
> That was my (divorced) neighbor across the street. She came over to ask
> why
> the brakes were making grinding noises and why there was rust all down the
> side of her van.
>
> I moved the car all of six feet down the driveway and stopped. Six feet
> was
> all it took to tell me EXACTLY what was going on.
>
> I asked her how long have the brakes been making funny noises? She says
> oh,
> it just started. Uh, don't think so...
>
> Dumb thing is, she did just exactly this to the rear drum brakes of her
> Chev Corsica the year before. I fixed those also.
>
> --
> TeGGeR®
>
> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
> www.tegger.com/hondafaq/
This might be slightly off-topic, if so please excuse it. I worked for
several years in a Sears Auto Center and what I have seen would scare the
BeJeezus out of you. One particular incident involved an early 90s model
Dodge Shadow. The lady brough it in complaining of a noise in the right rear
(disks front/drums rear). My brake tech started the inspection, then called
me into the shop. When he removed the right rear brake drum - the entire
assy fell out. That was the shoes, fastening hardware, ebrake er bar,
and the adjuster. The drum was badly scored from the er bar being
between the shoe and drum (for some time). That was the noise she had heard.
The tech then led me to the right front (disk brakes right?). He asked if I
noticed anything amiss - after some looking it hit me - there was NO disk on
the hub. There were no pads in the calipers either for obvious reasons. The
pads had been worn down to metal-on-metal and acted like a lathe and had cut
the outer part of the disk loose from the hub. We found the disk inboard on
the right drive axle. Further inspection revealed that the left front disk
was nearly cut off also. Only the left rear brake assy looked normal. After
I wrote up an estimate the response I received was - "Just put it back
together. I can't afford that much to get it fixed". Fortunately, Alaska law
allows a shop to refuse such refusals. Also, there was no way we could put
it back together in light of the damaged parts.

Dave D

m_prorok@hotmail.com

Thanks for the warning. I went to change the front brake pads last
night though, and was surprised to see them in pretty good shape. The
right side showed some uneven wear, so I did install new ones. The
rotors looked good too, still plenty thick. I didn't experience the
noise at all yesterday (even before installing the new brake pads), so
I am unsure if a problem still exists. One thing to note, the pad
itself looked like it had some rust starting to form, is this normal?
I'm thinking about taking it in to a shop this weekend, unless there
are any other ideas for something I can look at first.

Thanks
Matt

b1kjpi19 wrote:
> Brake pads used 100% ... now grinding (cracking-like) metal to metal.
> Check it ASAP ! before you mangle the disc(s) beyond repair and need

> replacement.
>
>
> m_prorok@hotmail.com wrote:
> > While sitting in some stop-'n-go traffic in my '89 Civic this
weekend I
> > started hearing a loud cracking-like noise when I stepped on the
> > brakes.
> > It only happens when applying light pressure to the pedal and I
only
> > could hear it during low speeds < 20MPH (though I could be missing
it
> > at higher speeds due to raod noise). It also keeps repeating the
sound
> > until the car comes a stop or firmer pressure is applied. Any idea
> > what might be causing this and/or how severe it is?
> >
> > Thanks
> > Matt
> >

m_prorok@hotmail.com

Thanks for the warning. I went to change the front brake pads last
night though, and was surprised to see them in pretty good shape. The
right side showed some uneven wear, so I did install new ones. The
rotors looked good too, still plenty thick. I didn't experience the
noise at all yesterday (even before installing the new brake pads), so
I am unsure if a problem still exists. One thing to note, the pad
itself looked like it had some rust starting to form, is this normal?
I'm thinking about taking it in to a shop this weekend, unless there
are any other ideas for something I can look at first.

Thanks
Matt

b1kjpi19 wrote:
> Brake pads used 100% ... now grinding (cracking-like) metal to metal.
> Check it ASAP ! before you mangle the disc(s) beyond repair and need

> replacement.
>
>
> m_prorok@hotmail.com wrote:
> > While sitting in some stop-'n-go traffic in my '89 Civic this
weekend I
> > started hearing a loud cracking-like noise when I stepped on the
> > brakes.
> > It only happens when applying light pressure to the pedal and I
only
> > could hear it during low speeds < 20MPH (though I could be missing
it
> > at higher speeds due to raod noise). It also keeps repeating the
sound
> > until the car comes a stop or firmer pressure is applied. Any idea
> > what might be causing this and/or how severe it is?
> >
> > Thanks
> > Matt
> >

Michael Pardee

<m_prorok@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1107953876.674931.267210@z14g2000cwz.googlegr oups.com...
> Thanks for the warning. I went to change the front brake pads last
> night though, and was surprised to see them in pretty good shape. The
> right side showed some uneven wear, so I did install new ones. The
> rotors looked good too, still plenty thick. I didn't experience the
> noise at all yesterday (even before installing the new brake pads), so
> I am unsure if a problem still exists. One thing to note, the pad
> itself looked like it had some rust starting to form, is this normal?
> I'm thinking about taking it in to a shop this weekend, unless there
> are any other ideas for something I can look at first.
>
> Thanks
> Matt
>

An important issue in uneven brake pad wear is the lubrication of the slide
pins (probably not the right term for the pins that allow the caliper to
float in the housing) in the caliper. They *really* need to be lubricated
every time the brakes pads are changed. I neglected them once on a Volvo and
the brakes ate through a pad and into the brand new rotor within a month
(sob!). If the pads are worn at any angle at all, or if there is visible
difference between the inner pad and outer pad on the same wheel, that is
why.

Mike

Michael Pardee

<m_prorok@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1107953876.674931.267210@z14g2000cwz.googlegr oups.com...
> Thanks for the warning. I went to change the front brake pads last
> night though, and was surprised to see them in pretty good shape. The
> right side showed some uneven wear, so I did install new ones. The
> rotors looked good too, still plenty thick. I didn't experience the
> noise at all yesterday (even before installing the new brake pads), so
> I am unsure if a problem still exists. One thing to note, the pad
> itself looked like it had some rust starting to form, is this normal?
> I'm thinking about taking it in to a shop this weekend, unless there
> are any other ideas for something I can look at first.
>
> Thanks
> Matt
>

An important issue in uneven brake pad wear is the lubrication of the slide
pins (probably not the right term for the pins that allow the caliper to
float in the housing) in the caliper. They *really* need to be lubricated
every time the brakes pads are changed. I neglected them once on a Volvo and
the brakes ate through a pad and into the brand new rotor within a month
(sob!). If the pads are worn at any angle at all, or if there is visible
difference between the inner pad and outer pad on the same wheel, that is
why.

Mike