Hi All -- Just spent quite a bit of time in the archive trying to solve a brake noise mystery. This site's a huge help. Big shout out to all who've contributed and worked on it.

The problem is a rear disc brake noise -- grinding -- sounds a bit like when brake pads are too tight. And there was quite a bit of discussion about such. In my case, I'm pretty sure it's the pads or the calipers.

My 2 questions: When I get this thing jacked up and the wheel off -- what are you looking at to tell whether or not the calipers are working properly? (The wheel is binding a bit). If I have someone else work the brake pedal and I watch the brake, should I see movement? How much is normal? (I assume the caliper travels on the slide pins). And are the slide pins supposed to be lubricated?

The other question: My scraping noise stops WHEN I APPLY the brakes. I was always under the impression that pad wear indicators are designed to make noise WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED -- and not at any other time. In the archives there was no final agreement about this. My guess is that since my noise stops when I apply brakes, it's NOT the pad wear indicator that's making the noise. Anyone feel they have an authoritive answer on the pad wear noise indicator issue???

BTW, the car is a stock 92 Accord EX station wagon w/ automatic and 168K.

And yeah, you're right. That is more than two questions.

Thanks is advance,
Ken

 

the caliper pins should be lube and slide free however u might not be able to see much movements on the calipers it is the pistons that slide into pads to push them against rotor thus stopping car/////

if ur brake pads are worn the wear bar will hit on the rotor making a squealing noise it does it while brake are not applyed or brakes applied i have also experienced that at times u will hear squeal from wear bar with brakes off and as soon as you step on the brakes noise will go away ..
i would chk brakes, rotors for wear and warpage and make sure caliper slides free on pins ...

 

thanks, deserthonda.

 

p.s. -- sure enough -- new pads -- no more noise...