Recently I put on JCW brakes in the front and NHT powder coated calipers in the rear of my 2006 MCS (stock calipers just rebuilt and powder coated). All the brakes are on correct, (rear clips in tact) with high temp grease on all the tracks and JCW brake pads in the rear, so everything is new and clean.

If I go forward (mostly slowly) and put on the brakes (usually after backing into my garage) I hear a slight "clunk" from the rear. If I do this very, very slowly I hear a "clunk, clunk". I don't feel it in the pedal and the brakes work great. I have had the brakes off a couple of times to check that everything is correct in the pad mounting and caliper mounting. All is good in that department, with the calipers torqued correctly to the hub.

Now, I live in the country, so it's quite and I am a hound for noise. When trying this with the radio on or the windows closed you really cannot hear it. I have greased and tightened all of the control arms and stabilizer ends. My guess is that it is the pads lightly hitting the front of the caliper with the tabs that are on the pads. This is the sound that I have heard whens I have mounted the pads in calipers before.

It just seems odd, but it also seems odd that the non-piston pads are just floating in the calipers without any holding springs.

So the obvious question is do others have this noise? If not, do any of you have any ideas? I can live with this if normal, but if not, I'm going to keep searching and searching for an answer.


Thanks, Gene

 

It is not normal. I have no idea as to the cause.

 

Did you find out what whas going on in your case?

My 2004 (~60k) is making caliper noises lately too. The pads and rotors were changed fairly recently. Seemed like it was coming from the drivers rear when going over small bumps etc. Putting on the brakes stopped the noise.

Low and behold, both rear calipers, even with the calper mounting pins tight, are aligned off axis to the rotor. The outer pads aren't even fully on the rotor, but have been wearing at an angle. Because the caliper isn't straight, the pad also has lots more room to float and bounce since it isn't seated against the caliper mount as it should be. There is where the noise is coming from.

I'm wondering if the rubber grommet that the caliper mounting pin slides on is a wear item? Seems that only this rubber piece keeps the caliper aligned with the disc...

Any clues appreciated.

-Mike

 

Doh - the springs were installed incorrectly...
The springs are what keeps the caliper pressed against the bracket and aligned...
See this pic in the DIY rear brake thread: