Front brake noise
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,504
Likes: 195
From: Moorpark, CA
Car: '91 GTA, '92 T/A Convertible
Engine: GTA: 350 w/Vortec heads, T/A: 305
Transmission: Pro-built 700R4
Axle/Gears: GTA: 3.27, T/A: 2.73
Front brake noise
A couple months ago I replaced my brakes front and rear. I replaced the rubber lines with braided lines. The rears got new aluminum drums, shoes, and all associated hardware. The fronts got new EBC slotted rotors (UBS-7000), Timken inner & outer bearings, standard Autozone replacement calipers, and Duralast brake pads. After reassembly, the brakes were bled.
Here's the issue: The front brakes make a lot of noise when stopping. It is a rhythmic sort of grinding/squealing sound. It only happens as the vehicle comes to a stop. I don't hear it at light braking at moderate speeds. That doesn't mean its not there, just that I don't recall hearing it or there is too much wind/road noise for me to hear it. It seems to be directly related to how much pressure I put on the pads via pressing the peddle. Additionally, I took the car on a cruise down the PCH to Santa Monica a couple of times. It's about an hour's drive on a semi-winding road. By the time I got down there the brakes were warmed up they were not making any noise at all, and did not make any noise all the way home. I hear it from the first time I touch the brakes when cold and when I get to work, which is about a ten-fifteen minute drive.
My first inclination is that the rotors are possibly warped slightly, or maybe that the pads are not a good fit for the slotted rotors. This last weekend I took the calipers off and made sure that the pads are seated properly, which they are. Rotors spin freely with the calipers off and spin good with the calipers/pads on as well, although on the driver's side it has very short periods when I spin it by hand with the calipers/pads on where I feel some sort of resistance, although it isn't much and I don't hear any associated noise. For reference, this is occurring on my '92 Trans Am.
Any suggestions on where to look?
Here's the issue: The front brakes make a lot of noise when stopping. It is a rhythmic sort of grinding/squealing sound. It only happens as the vehicle comes to a stop. I don't hear it at light braking at moderate speeds. That doesn't mean its not there, just that I don't recall hearing it or there is too much wind/road noise for me to hear it. It seems to be directly related to how much pressure I put on the pads via pressing the peddle. Additionally, I took the car on a cruise down the PCH to Santa Monica a couple of times. It's about an hour's drive on a semi-winding road. By the time I got down there the brakes were warmed up they were not making any noise at all, and did not make any noise all the way home. I hear it from the first time I touch the brakes when cold and when I get to work, which is about a ten-fifteen minute drive.
My first inclination is that the rotors are possibly warped slightly, or maybe that the pads are not a good fit for the slotted rotors. This last weekend I took the calipers off and made sure that the pads are seated properly, which they are. Rotors spin freely with the calipers off and spin good with the calipers/pads on as well, although on the driver's side it has very short periods when I spin it by hand with the calipers/pads on where I feel some sort of resistance, although it isn't much and I don't hear any associated noise. For reference, this is occurring on my '92 Trans Am.
Any suggestions on where to look?