Jimi Hondrix

1998 Civic EX coupe (D16Y8) stock. AT. 148K miles.

My daughter's car has developed a creaking sound during light braking on the front right side. Also, some shudder has developed,
When pedal is first depressed it has a rotational high pitched metallic sound that develops into creaking when further depressed, She's owned the car since January this year and I've installed or repaired the following:
Both sides front: Ceramic brake pads. rotors turned. new tires (front and rear), inner & outer tie rods, alignment,
Left front: CV axle, caliper

Tomorrow I will have time to look into the right front and hopefully repair the issue. Doing some internet research it seems it could be a number of things causing the creaking sound (answers copied and pasted from various boards):

1) A creak at slow and slight braking would lead me to a swaybar bushing with play, perhaps a link/bad bushing in that area.

2) The spring may be rubbing or moving on its spring perch. Try just spraying some lubricant on the lower spring perch and see if the noise changes

3) creaking and popping noises when turning and slowing down. It was the strut bearing on top of the strut tower.

4) try getting some caliper synthetic grease and grease up your pins

5) The U-joint in the axle may be creaking

6) try greasing the sway bar bushings

7) replaced wheel bearings ..noise gone.

8) could be due to rotor run-out.

Due to a knocking sound on the front left during full-lock left turns my son and his friend will be removing both front struts/spring (or shocks, if you prefer) replace the springs (if need be), lube the mounts (replace if need be) with silicone paste and re-installing them, So, if the right side creaking is due to the strut mounts hopefully the reinstall (and repair if need be) will solve that.
I've never owned a car that needed so much front-end attention and I have learned that it takes patience and help from internet boards and occasionally a local mechanic to figure issues out.

All replies, suggestions welcomed

Former User

What exactly do you mean by this^?

5410 or 2056 calipers?

ABS or non-ABS?

Jimi Hondrix

Non ABS. I will have to check the caliper stamp when I get the right front wheel off tomorrow.
I did all the previous work on both sides about 4 months ago.. no brake shudder/pulsing at that time.
Now it has shudder/pulsing while braking that could be due to rotors. When braking while letting go of the wheel it does not pull to one side or the other,

Jimi Hondrix

None.. when I am parked and turning the wheel side to side.

None... when I bounce the car up and down or side to side.. Struts/springs seem to be in good shape but, either weren't mounted correctly (before we purchased it) or needs repair.

Former User

Vibration felt at brake pedal?

Jimi Hondrix

Yes. Feel it in wheel..maybe slightly in the pedal (IIRC).

Former User

Based on this^ symptom, it would be prudent to replace both rotors.

With respect to the creaking noise, check your brake pad installation. I'd post the specific diagrams, but I don't know the type of calipers on the car.

I also recommend that you replace the pad shims and retainers, if they are old, and lubricate the pads and shims where indicated in the service manual. Cleaning and lubricating the caliper pins would also be wise.

Finally, check whether the wheel splash guard is bent, allowing it to rub on the brake rotor under conditions that cause the creaking noise.

Jimi Hondrix

Thanks Ron and SloMo.

I replaced the brake pads on both sides with some cheap pads 4 months ago: BrakeBest Brakes D465A - Brake Pads | O'Reilly Auto Parts
and I installed this caliper (left side only): BrakeBest 19-1833 - Brake Caliper | O'Reilly Auto Parts marked 5410. I lubricated the bottom and top of pads with Napa Syl-glide: http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/Ca...351_0434860568 where they slide into the retaining clip.
I've recently read that applying RTV black silicon to the back shim helps against vibration so, I may try that unless advised against..
I do intend to clean and lube the slider pins with Syl-Glide. I will check the dust cover/splash guard too and bend it out a bit if need be.

tony_2018

replace rotrss

Former User

Consider replacing old shims and retainers as well. They can also contribute to noise.

5410 diagrams show proper assembly and disassembly, as well as key parts and lubrication points.

Jimi Hondrix

My checklist for tomorrow is:

With wheel on, front of car raised on stands (both sides):
1) check bearing doing the 6 and 12 o'clock and 3 and 9 o'clock test
2) put car in drive (parking brake engaged) listen for bearing grind or squeal. Slowly apply brakes to help isolate creaking.


With wheel off, front of car raised on stands (both sides):

1) inspect splash guard
2) replace rotors
3) torque spec suspension and brake nut/bolts
4) Follow Honda guide as posted by Ron. Follow this video for caliper check and brake pad inspection:

Former User

Eric gives great general information, but rely on the diagrams as your main guide to ensure that you correctly disassemble, lubricate, replace, and reassemble the brake parts.

You seem to do a lot of car work. If you don't have the service manual for your car, get one. If you have one, use it.

Jimi Hondrix

Followed the list I posted previously and the results are:
No play or noise during wheel bearing tests and seems to be working fine.
Right front caliper working well.. no need to replace
Removed, cleaned and lubed caliper slider pins
Removed pads, sanded the fonts and edges. Lubed back of shims, bottom and tops of shims. Cleaned and lubed retainer clips.
Bled both front calipers.
Tightened several front end parts... none were loose
Wire brushed hub mating surface and installed new rotors purchased at Pep boys for $34 each http://www.pepboys.com/product/details/620486/00398 They didn't have the lower priced one in stock so, they gave me 30% off.

Creaking and shuddering gone, very quiet braking and hope it stays this way. Thanks SloMo. Eric TCG and Ron especially for posting the related manual guides.
Lessen learned: replace rotors with new rather than cutting/turning them.

I forgot to mention that the left front is now making a scraping sound after rotor install. I got the caliper/pads on but was a tight fit and made it's own scraping sound while installing . It's a 3 month old barely used caliper.. I should have pried it open more by pushing the piston back as far as possible. Could also be the dust cover/splash guard as that has caused scraping in the past...Seems to scrape more on left turns and not much at all when driving straight. I just didn't have time to mess with it... work night-shift on Wednesdays.