noise from up front, stops when I touch the brake pedal

[john 05141]

I had 2 noise issues from up front. one was a cracking noise when I made a hard slow turn. It was solved by replacing the bearings up front.
The other one still remains.

When driving with the window open, espacially passing a row of cars or a wall that will reflect noise well, I hear a rattling noise from up front. It can be heard quite well. When going over a speed bump I hear it even better.
Strange thing is that when I gently touch the prake pedal while in motion, the noise stops. release the brake, it comes right back. Anyone has a tought what this can be?
Sounds dangerous, I'm affraid to drive the car right now.

John

[Michael]

Might want to check the front pads and see if there is a pin missing or backed out.

[DMC3165]

Might want to check the front pads and see if there is a pin missing or backed out.

+1

Definitely a brake related issue especially if the noise goes away when applying the brakes.

[Jonathan]

Do you have the anti-rattle pins clipped in on the front pads? They come with the hardware kit if you need to order some. I have had a similar noise, or similar circumstances anyway. It comes and goes depending on how much you press on the brakes. My suspicion is it is related to my front left rotor being slightly out of true, and once every 360 degrees, it causes the pad to shake a bit and thus I get a slight clicking noise. I think ultimately it is related to my front calipers sticking a little bit. I rebuilt my rears a few years ago, but still need to do the fronts (which if there were ever a replacement caliper you could just buy as new and complete and put on our cars that would fit I am all ears!) Yours might be similar.

[dvonk]

+1

Definitely a brake related issue especially if the noise goes away when applying the brakes.

+2. that would be the first thing id check as well.

[vwdmc16]

+3 my car has rattling pads too, ive tried a variety of springs that push on the pads to try and shut it up but nothing works consistently. So instead I roll up the windows and crank up the jams.8)

[MML]

+3 my car has rattling pads too, ive tried a variety of springs that push on the pads to try and shut it up but nothing works consistently. So instead I roll up the windows and crank up the jams.8)

+4, my back right was rattling, turned out to be missing pins.

[john 05141]

Thanks y'all,
I appreciate your input.

That sound logical what you are ll saying. I did have my complete braking system redone this spring. New discs and new SS brake lines, and the brake calipers were refurbished. The guy putting them in is our of the country until end of august. I hope to ask asap. But I can immagine this sound can be your discription. If this is the case, is thee any hazard involved? I mean can I drive the car safely not worrying a wheel will come off or I loose brakes?

The car goes into serve each spring (long drive to European standards) and I have no trips scheduled this year anyway. In about 2 to 3 months she goes into winter storage anyway.

John

[vwdmc16]

Well if you are missing one of the two pins holding the pad in, it would still be quite hard for the pad to come out but who knows how well the other pin is doing, If your pad comes out you will lose brakes on that wheel entirely for a few more pumps, then it will be metal to metal and not good either. Just take your wheel off and inspect for anything missing.

[john 05141]

When asking help for a problem, it is at least fair to give the outcome when it is solved.
Thanks every body for your advice. On wednesday we had a national holiday in Belgium and it is about to become a traditional delorean get-together, with a very small tech-Session. Anyway Welmoed knew about this "issue" and he flled his trunk with some heavy-duty material to check it out. The idea was to jack the front up, install a camera and make a drive. But when the cars nose was lifted Welmoed started yanking and spinning the wheels and he said "Is this what you're hearing??? It certainly was, we took the wheel off and I saw the brake pads have to much space. Or they are too small, or the holes for the pins too big. Anyway, this was causing the rattle or clicking noise, there was no doubt.

So it will be taken care of next servive. I have no intention to make big trips, and if I will add 200 miles before winter storage it will be a lot. So I think it is safe to drive around the block.

thanks!
john

[dvonk]

glad to hear that you found out what the problem was! :smile:

[TTait]

And for anyone who has not met Welmoed - He's the best. He's a hell of a guy and anyone traveling in Holland should look him up.

[john 05141]

With maybe the exception of the professionals (but darn close) there is no guy I know who knows more about Deloreans than Welmoed! I'm glad I can call him a friend.

John

[DMC5180]

When asking help for a problem, it is at least fair to give the outcome when it is solved.
Thanks every body for your advice. On wednesday we had a national holiday in Belgium and it is about to become a traditional delorean get-together, with a very small tech-Session. Anyway Welmoed knew about this "issue" and he flled his trunk with some heavy-duty material to check it out. The idea was to jack the front up, install a camera and make a drive. But when the cars nose was lifted Welmoed started yanking and spinning the wheels and he said "Is this what you're hearing??? It certainly was, we took the wheel off and I saw the brake pads have to much space. Or they are too small, or the holes for the pins too big. Anyway, this was causing the rattle or clicking noise, there was no doubt.

So it will be taken care of next servive. I have no intention to make big trips, and if I will add 200 miles before winter storage it will be a lot. So I think it is safe to drive around the block.

thanks!
john

This is interesting. I did a 4 wheel brake pad replacement this spring + front rotors. (RH had slight warping and was just below minimum thickness to turn) Ever since I did this job, I've been hearing a subtle rotational click up front just like you described with window down or open door (parade mode). It's like the the rotor is brushing the backing plate once ever rotation. I know all the Anchor pins are in place. But I don't have anti-squeal shims. The pads (AXXIS ceramic) did not come with any. I ended up just using Liquid Anti-Squeal compound smeared on the back of each pad. (The pads don't squeal btw)

At one time, I thought it might have been the angle-drive or speedo cable. However, the sound does go away when touching the brake pedal which rules that out. I am wondering now if it is the WILL-FIT aftermarket pads causing the issue. (large pin holes)

[john 05141]

We looked at the angle drive too but we noticed rather quickly this was not the cause of the sound. The angle drive was replaced 2 years ago after a bouncing needle.

Welmoed thinks the pins holes in the pads are slightmy larger than the pins. I think he's right.

John