Newbie needs help with noises when braking

[Chriz]

Hi guys. I'm new here and pretty much new to cars and driving. I have a 2003 Corolla sedan which I bought at 95,000km. It's now close to 100,000km, but in the last week or so when I've been braking, the front brakes seems to make a squeaky squealing noise, when a certain amount of brake pressure is applied. This concerned me a bit, but not too much as you hear this noise from other cars every now and then.

I thought I'd change brake pads when I get to 100,000km, but today on my way home from work, I heard a metallic sort of scraping noise which I could guess was coming from the right front wheel. At times it was actually quite loud and the sound reverberated back of cars beside me or concrete walls. This was while I was driving. The noise would cease when I started braking, indicated to me that it must be brake related. It happened on and off however, sometimes the noise could not be heard, or else it was very quiet. What do you think it is? Where is the best place to take the brakes to be inspected and if necessary, changed? Would you recommend driving far while this is happening? All help and advise is greatly appreciated.

[SuperDave]

The brake pads might be on the wear indicator. I have never run pads that low so I can't say if they make that sort of noise or not. But if you get a rock wedged somewhere it shouldn't be in the brakes it makes an ungodly metallic noise.

[T_Money]

hey buddy,

Simply take you wheel off and have a look at the pads and rotors. If there is one fifth of f*&k meat left on the pads its a reasonable assumption that it is th wear indicator on the pad making the noise. If there is still a bit of meat and a nice etched section of the disc, which will be smooth as a babies bum if in good condition, you may well have a small stone stuck in/under under or around the pad.

Another reason the pad may make a squealing noise is if the pads are not fitted properly, ie on a dodgey angle. this is unlikely though unless you have taken them out at some point to have a ;look at them and then reinstalled them incorrectly.

Hope this has been of help.

[selyaT]

I also have a 1ZZ Corolla and I had the same problem at the same odometer reading.

I changed the pads at 100,000kms and cleaned the rotors which had a slight built up of crud on them. Once the new pads were bedded in it was fine, and is to this day...

[Chriz]

I got it checked and they said I need new pads obviously, new discs for the front as well which are over $400, they said they'd fix the back as well and change a pair of balding tyres. They said all up with labour it's a bit over $1000. Does this sound reasonable for all this work? It's essentially a full wheel service, as they will align wheels and such as well.

[selyaT]

If they're charging you $400 for a new set of rotors then you should buy the RDA slotted rotors for $160 a set (see the brake upgrade thread in the suspension brakes section, in particular posts by MR22ZZ). Pads you can get for under $100. If you're running standard wheels then you can shop around and probably get two new tyres fitted for around $200. A wheel alignment shouldn't be more than $150 so by my count you're only up to about $500...

I don't know the costs of labour though 'cos we usually go DIY for this type of stuff.

What exactly is wrong with the rear do they think?

Who are "they"? Did you take it to Toyota?

[Chriz]

It's a K-Mart tyre and auto service near my work. The rear pads are about 80% worn. I can't remember if they said they'd change that or re-work them or whatever it is that can be done.

[selyaT]

Well to answer your original question, over $1000 does not seem reasonable.

We need more opinions here though.

[Chriz]

I had the previous issues resolved, but the new brake bads after a few weeks seem to make a squeaky noise. A friend said it might just be brake dust and that that you can hose off the brake area. Would this be recommended?

[T_Money]

I had the previous issues resolved, but the new brake bads after a few weeks seem to make a squeaky noise. A friend said it might just be brake dust and that that you can hose off the brake area. Would this be recommended?

Hey buddy,

All those parts of your car can take as much water as you can throw at them! Hosing any external part of you car will never be an issue. Water only really becomes and issue of you start hosing out the engine bay and water gets in and around the ignition leads/spark plugs. New pads will generally squeak especially if you did not bed them in to the manufactures specifications. Mind you this 'should' have been done by the service place.

[Chriz]

Will the squeeking stop over time, or should I take it back to get them bedded in? I haven't bothered looking into checking them out recently as I've been busy, but today after a while of driving, they seemed louder and more annoying.

[SuperDave]

If you have done a couple hundred k's with these brakes then they should be bedded in.

I get a mild squeeling noise from the front right brakes while driving along and goes away when I apply the brakes too, I'm not too worried about it though. But depends on how loud your noise is, I find it annoying, but haven't worked out a fix for it yet (mainly lazyness).

[selyaT]

You can buy this product in a can called "Rotor Clean" or something along the lines... You just remove your wheels, spray it on the discs and wipe off. My brakes were still a bit noisy after changing pads too. Wiped the rotors clean with this stuff and it was fine.