On Sunday during the leaves run I noticed that when the car was moving at very slow "car park" speed, I could feel some movement when pressing the brake to bring the car to a halt. A bit tricky to descirbe but kinda felt like the brake pads were moving quarter of an inch then butting against the caliper, but only on the front drivers side. I didn't notice any other symptoms at all and this could only be felt at less than 5mph.
Any clues? I fitted 4 new EBC turbogroove disks about 600 miles ago. I used the existing greenstuff pads as they were less than half worn. I did flaten them with some sandpaper first. At the same time I replaced the 4 front balljoints and front wheel bearings. I also replaced one of the track rod ends as the rubber was looking a bit perished.
I will take a look at the weekend and wont be driving it before then.
Any thoughts welcome
**Updated** Dull thud/clunk at low speed?
**Updated** Dull thud/clunk at low speed?
Last edited by Stewart on Sun Oct 29, 2006 11:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
Stewart
Brake pad buffs ? they silence/stop the pad sliding up/down within the housing of the caliper and making contact with the sides when the brakes are applied...hope that describes it well enough 
couple of rubber stoppers basically, buttons to buy just a case of removing the brake pad from the housing and placing these sticky pads at the top and bottom edges
couple of rubber stoppers basically, buttons to buy just a case of removing the brake pad from the housing and placing these sticky pads at the top and bottom edges
You know, I am not even certain there is a noise. It is perhaps more of feel through the pedal. I know that there had obviously been some rubber pads in place when I did the brakes but these were pretty worn and I know that at least one fell out of at least one of the wheels, so may be that.
Stewart
It will be most pronounced if you go reverse, brake, forwards, brake, repeat until bored ...
The pad can move up and down in the caliper, and clamping it to the disk is what will make it move, just as it first touches. The grooved disks may make this worse in the sense that the grooves provide an edge to lift the pad with.
The genuine lotus buffers are worth having. The others I have seen are pretty rubbish and will come unpealed in about 10 minutes
Cheers,
Robin
The pad can move up and down in the caliper, and clamping it to the disk is what will make it move, just as it first touches. The grooved disks may make this worse in the sense that the grooves provide an edge to lift the pad with.
The genuine lotus buffers are worth having. The others I have seen are pretty rubbish and will come unpealed in about 10 minutes
Cheers,
Robin
Stewart,
I had the same problem and found it to be that the pad retaining springs had been fitted upside down. The brakes still work ok but what happens is that the springs push the pads down away from the top of the caliper. When you press the pedal the pads clamp the disk and move the 2-3 mm up until they butt against the caliper giving a slight knocking noise.
I had the same problem and found it to be that the pad retaining springs had been fitted upside down. The brakes still work ok but what happens is that the springs push the pads down away from the top of the caliper. When you press the pedal the pads clamp the disk and move the 2-3 mm up until they butt against the caliper giving a slight knocking noise.
If you're not living on the edge you're wasting too much space!
Guys
Many thanks for the responses. I'll let you know what I find out at the weekend.
Thanks for that. What you are describing are my exact symptoms. I remember realising that I had put one of the back brake springs in the wrong way when I went to do the opposite side. I also recall wondering if I had put the front spring in the right way. Because I ended up doing all four brake disks and then not realising I was needing to do the other front wheel bearing, there was nearly a week between me doing the two sides. It is therefore quite conceivable that I wasn't consistent when putting the springs back in.
The brakes felt really good on Sunday, so I am certain that it is nothing major.
Many thanks for the responses. I'll let you know what I find out at the weekend.
StephenStephen wrote:Stewart,
I had the same problem and found it to be that the pad retaining springs had been fitted upside down. The brakes still work ok but what happens is that the springs push the pads down away from the top of the caliper. When you press the pedal the pads clamp the disk and move the 2-3 mm up until they butt against the caliper giving a slight knocking noise.
Thanks for that. What you are describing are my exact symptoms. I remember realising that I had put one of the back brake springs in the wrong way when I went to do the opposite side. I also recall wondering if I had put the front spring in the right way. Because I ended up doing all four brake disks and then not realising I was needing to do the other front wheel bearing, there was nearly a week between me doing the two sides. It is therefore quite conceivable that I wasn't consistent when putting the springs back in.
The brakes felt really good on Sunday, so I am certain that it is nothing major.
Stewart
) I tend to think that the correct fittment of the spring looks like a cactus plant.**Updated** Dull thud/clunk at low speed?
I have just whipped the front wheel off and I can see that the retaining clip is in the correct position. This is kinda of good, but means that I had to look elsewhere for my problem.
I didn't need to look too far. The brake disk is moving on the wheel studs. i.e. it is taking up the the mm or two of slack because the disk is not "sticking" to the hub. The roadwheel was torqued up tight.
Now here is my first admission
I put copperslip on both faces of the disk (obviously not the braking surface) so I am guessing that it is not getting the friction to lock it tight to the hub?
I will go and remove th disk and clean it up - presumably with a cloth soaked in white spirit?
When I did the brakes I had the hub off to do the bearing so gave the hubs a really good clean with a wire brush on a drill so hopefully removing the copperslip will do the job.
As Benny Hill used to say "Learning all the time"!
I didn't need to look too far. The brake disk is moving on the wheel studs. i.e. it is taking up the the mm or two of slack because the disk is not "sticking" to the hub. The roadwheel was torqued up tight.
Now here is my first admission
I put copperslip on both faces of the disk (obviously not the braking surface) so I am guessing that it is not getting the friction to lock it tight to the hub?I will go and remove th disk and clean it up - presumably with a cloth soaked in white spirit?
When I did the brakes I had the hub off to do the bearing so gave the hubs a really good clean with a wire brush on a drill so hopefully removing the copperslip will do the job.
As Benny Hill used to say "Learning all the time"!
Stewart
