Thanks Marshall. My thoughts have drifted back to the emergancy brake
pads and I've been thinking of removing that set and giving it a test,
since the problem has been pretty predictable.
Neal
Marshall Booth wrote:
Neal Kramarcy wrote:
Hello list,
I need some help from your collective wisdom. My problem is strange.
For the last several months I've been dealing with my 1981 3000CD left
rear brake that seems to be either grabbing the rotor or pulsing such
that I hear a hard metal sound as if the pad was loose or the rotor was
moving. It is not smooth, but almost a popping like metal sound. When
applying the brakes the noise quiets, is gone. It starts after a period
of driving, usually I hear it after about 10-12 miles at 50-55.
Sometimes once it quiets is smooths out with the occasional pop. When
this first started I thought it a bad driveaxle and replaced it. A week
or so later the noise returned. I replaced the caliper and there was no
change. I replaced the brake hose and got a week of relief. But it's
back. I don't feel any vibration when moving at highway speeds and
often in stop and go traffic, which I don't do a lot of, the noise
rarely appears. The rotors were replaced in the recent past as was the
master cylinder ( within the last 18 mos to 2 years). When I had my
indie look at it they found the sway bar busings worn and replaced them
but saw nothing else. But since they didn't drive it long enough they
didn't hear the noise. The brakes are firm and I don't feel a pulsing
due to a warped rotor, but something is producing this weird response
and it's getting a bit frustrating. Any help would be appreciated.
The emergency brake shoes often cause a problem quite like you seem to
be describing. Remove the rotor and examine the brake shoes and the
springs that secure them.
Marshall
