Hey everyone- new Civic owner here. I bought a certified used 2010 lx-s with 25k miles. While driving home (45 mins away from dealer) I noticed a rattling/metal clanging noise when I slowly begin to apply the brakes. When I fully brake, it doesn't rattle. It's like when you're in the motion of going into a brake, it clangs during that motion. I don't feel it in the steering wheel, only the brake pedal. When I bought it, it was certified and brake pads were replaced and rotors resurfaced.

I took it to dealer the day after and they first said it was rust in the wheels/rotors b/c the car was sitting in the lot for a couple months before I bought it. After they cleaned it out- I drove home and again started hearing the rattling. It sounds like a ferris wheel turning (that metalic ting ting). Can be heard from the outside too. This only happens when the brake is not fully applied. For example, if I slowly go and have the brake half pressed, the clanging is continuous.

I'm taking it into the dealer again on Saturday but was wondering if anyone had input/advice on what I should tell dealer to look at as well as their own inspection.

Thanks!!!

 

Could be a heat shield that is scraping on something. Find a place that does free brake inspections for a second opinion. The dealer is only going to tell you it's not a problem.

 

Hey integra, thanks for your reply. I've been frantically searching the web for any similar issues.

Is the heat shield part of the brakes/pads/rotors/wheels/etc?
I don't have a single drop of car knowledge so I don't even know where the heat shield you mention is, lol. I googled heat shield and this seems to be near the exhaust? Would this scrape/rattle have any connection with my braking that causes the noise?

Thanks for your help.

 

Sorry I misspoke they are not really "heat" shields, but there are shields (large metal discs) that go right behind the rotor to prevent rocks/water from hitting the back side of the rotor. They often get bent easily and can make scraping noise, but this is only one possibility.

Like I mentioned, IMO, your best bet is to get a free inspection (second opinion). It could be other things like a loose parking brake cable, or even worse they may not have properly torqued one of the bolts on the calipers.

 

Like Integra says this is the probable suspect. Sometimes a little rock/dust gets in between them also.

 

You could just inspect the system yourself