Brakes Grinding, but discs and pads look okay....????

jamiemacp · Post by **jamiemacp** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 11:21 pm

Anyone any idea? Had the bongo about a month, but only been using it properley over last week or so and its going great aprt from a grinding noise from front brakes when brake are pressed. I have checked the pads and discs and they all look okay with no groove or ridges on the discs and the pads still have plenty of life in them. So a bit lost... what does everone think?

Post by **Bob** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 12:54 am

Has it been sat for a while? Possibly rust on the discs, which should come off pretty quickly.

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 1:45 am

Did you check the little groove in the pads? That may have picked up a small bit of gravel or grit?

Its supposed to be for an escape route for brake dust before it builds up,but all it seems to do is get clogged up.

I'm assuming also that you removed the pads for inspection?

If it was only a visual check, it's easy to assume that the backing plate that the actual pad sits on is the pad!

In which case you may be braking on metal

Which will soon trash your discs,and quite possibly your bongo if it doesn't stop in time!

I say this because i made the same mistake with mine a couple of years ago,quick visual inspections through the wheel every now & then...till i got the scraping/grinding sound which meant my pads had worn to the metal

A cursory glance showed nothing amiss though.

jamiemacp · Post by **jamiemacp** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 2:25 pm

It was just a decent visual inspection, but front right brakes are also making a clunking sound now, so going to strip front brakes down at the weekend and replace pads as well.
WIll not do then any harm replacing pads even if existing ones are still decent.
Cheers
Jamie

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 4:49 pm

My front brakes clunk when first used after changing direction forward/reverse/forward. I'm told its just pads resettling and quite normal. I mention it just in case that is what you've got. I've had it for 10k+ miles with no hassle etc.

Good luck with your investigations - keep us posted, this is an interesting one.

Mike

jamiemacp · Post by **jamiemacp** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 1:17 pm

Brake pads havent arrived yet, but got fron wheels off this morning for a better look and they def seem okay, but will get changed anyway.
Cured the clunking sound very simply as there is a small vertical stay between the shock and what appears to be a caonnecting arm to the anti-roll bar? this was loose at one end, so a quick tighten up and noise has gone.
However had a look further back under the car and while most of the underside looks to be in excellent condtion, the centre section of the exhaust is not and is very nearly seperated from the back section.
After having a search on here I have found a supplier for the centra section at a decent price, however the bolts securing the old one on are solid. whats best way to get them off? SHould I let exhaust heat up first?

Cheers
Jamie

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 4:07 pm

Heat on the bolts should do the trick,see if a local garage, or tyre/exhaust fitting place will lend you a little portable blowlamp (ya never know)...