Hey guys, I think my TA needs new front pads. I hear the usual tell-tale squealing when stopping but what's really strange is this groaning/scraping noise the car makes just before it stops. Let's say I'm stopping for a light when driving at 40 mph, the car will make this noise when it slows down to about 10 mph or under until it stops completely. I can also feel a very light vibrating/pulsating in the brake pedal which matches the noise. I'm going to look at the car later this evening after I get out of work but I thought I'd ask for now to get some pointers as to what I ought to look at. It started doing this and the usual worn-pad squealing rather suddenly a few days ago too by the way and the noise seems to be coming from the front discs.

 

Probably the rivets in the pads - the pads have worn already and the rotors are getting scored by the pad rivets. The "tell tale" screeching doesn't mean continue driving and replace at your convenience ... it means STOP DRIVING now and fix me before I score your rotors!

 

Nope, to my surprise the pads are actually still pretty meaty, however notice how there's NO rust on the edge of this rotor and the polished mark on the center part of the rotor (I guess you can call it the hub?) :



Can you see what's wrong?



Yeah... I'm missing the lower caliper pin. Yikes. I was definitely shocked to find this, but it probably explains the sudden noise. To be honest with you, had I known this was the case from the beginning I would've parked the car immediately, but since it still drove fine with no pulling or odd brake feel (except for what I felt when almost stopped), I just didn't think twice about it considering how this old car already creaks and groans like crazy lol. So I figured another new noise shouldn't be a big deal LOL. But now maybe I should start tracing down what the other noises are... hahaha.

I haven't driven it yet after replacing the pin (too late and it's time for bed) but I'm practically 100% sure that explains everything. And I torqued that sucker down nicely so I'm praying this doesn't happen again... especially considering that I'm daily driving this thing until I find a new DD.


I guess I answered my own question!