Car experts - Having brake trouble

[frorider6]

My fiance's 94 Eclipse makes a wicked bad sound occasionally when braking. It's not the grinding sound you get when you need new pads. It's like the brakes start resonating and make a really loud medium pitch vibration sound. The only way to stop it is to quickly release and reapply the brakes. It doesn't happen on hard braking though, only occasionally during medium to light braking.

I'm decent with cars but clueless about brake systems. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[naturally anabolic]

sticking calipers or brake dust.

 

[Y_lifter]

Have you check the muffler bearings ?

I bet that's it.......

Either that or take a clue from George Foreman and go to Meineke..

 

[Boach]

I'm assuming that you have disc brakes on the car. If you recently replaced those pads, then someone forgot to put this gunk on them that prevents them from squeaking. Basically, it's like glue that holds the pads against the calipers--pulls them back from the disc. That's probably it.

If not, then you might have a warped disc and you'll have to get that replaced or machined. It could be a lot of shit. Might be dust too.

 

[smallmovesal]

My fiance's 94 Eclipse makes a wicked bad sound

stop driving in boston

 

[LargeNCharge]

Sounds to me like the calipers are sticking. If the rotors were warped, then the brakes would bounce regardless of the braking pressure. Could also be dust buildup(as mentioned above).

 

[Y_lifter]

Fro, What's up brotha ?

Dude, you are betrothed now and should be doing the Manly thing and providing your future bride with a new sleigh..

A BMW 3 series ragtop would be nice and not to costly..

 

[frorider6]

Thanks for the suggestions. But I'm pretty sure it isn't a warped rotor (yes, disk brakes). And I've ruled out brake dust for the most part as I've sprayed brake cleaner on the rotors several times. I guess it just needs new pads.

It's not such a big deal though. We're just trying to sell the car. I'm going to be taking it around to some used car dealers and trying to offload it quick. Neither of us has the time to sell it on our own.

 

[Y_lifter]

Way to go fro.... Keep the misses in a fine ride........

 

[Caesar_wv]

Believe it or not...if you have Aluminum rims...could be a slight bend in one of them...or something with the caliper.

 

[JayBro]

Your rotors need to be de glazed.

 

[frorider6]

Your rotors need to be de glazed.

I don't know what the fuck that means but it sure sounds good. I think that's what I'll tell people.

Y_Lifter - Hopefully the future-misses and I will be in some cheap ass BMW over in Germany within the year.

 

[Y_lifter]

Originally posted by frorider6
Y_Lifter - Hopefully the future-misses and I will be in some cheap ass BMW over in Germany within the year.

Her in a Bimmer and you in a Porche zipping down the Autobahn...
I hate you.....

 

[frorider6]

Her in a Bimmer and you in a Porche zipping down the Autobahn...
I hate you.....

Sorry to bust your bubble there kiddo, but we can't afford that shit.

 

[Genie]

Fro, What's up brotha ?

Dude, you are betrothed now and should be doing the Manly thing and providing your future bride with a new sleigh..

A BMW 3 series ragtop would be nice and not to costly..

You are a very wise man Y. I assume you have a very happy woman at home!! Keep up the good advice!!!

 

[needleboy]

Fro,

there is an adhesive for the back of the pad which keeps them from vibrating, try that, it may have lost it's bond!

 

[Y_lifter]

Originally posted by needleboy Fro,
there is an adhesive for the back of the pad which keeps them from vibrating, try that, it may have lost it's bond!

That looks more like a solution for a Feminine Hygiene problem than a vehicle problem.

And Genie, Mrs. Y_Lifter is a very happy woman...
I do my very best to keep her that way..

 

[supertech69]

Some aftermarket pads (especially the lifetime waranty ones that Auto Zone sells) have a 2 ply sheet metal on the back of the pads. Often times the sheet metal will tear way from the rivets holding the pads on & the thin sheet metal will start to warp/bend causing squeaking. Check the back of the pads, it's very obvious if this is the case. Otherwise it could be any of the other things mentioned above.

 

[Lumberg]

Yeah maybe it just needs Disk Brake Quiet, it's blue gunk that comes in either a spray can or a pouch like soy sauce.

Second possibility: needs shims. serve the same purpose as the above.

Third, most likely possibility: either glazed rotors or pads.

You can take sandpaper or an abrasion tool to both that helps. Sometimes the edge of the pad is catching and beveling the edges helps. If the rotors are real bad you might have to have them machined. Make sure they put a non-directional finish on 'em when they're done and brakleen the metal particles off.

I had a 76 Malibu whose brakes squeaked and I tried all of the above but to no avail. Finally I realized it was little cracks in the brake pads (cheap pads). I even tried sanding down the areas around the cracks so they weren't touching the rotor but there were too many. I forget if I just lived with it or bought new pads. Probably lived with it, I was poor.

 

[rudedawg]

Turn up the radio.

 

[Formula]

Just drop a little oil in those break's'.