Clicking Brakes (05 Seat Ibiza)

[danhx]

I've had a strange clicking from my near side front when braking at slow speeds.

The click is most noticeable when crawling in traffic, under normal traffic conditions I have not heard it. The noise will go away if the brake pressure is increased, or decreased. There is an 'anti sweet spot' where it happens.

I had both sides jacked up today with the wheels off to change the drop links (cause of noise, but not that particular one) and the only thing I could find was that the outside pad moves slightly in the caliper, where as the others have no play in them. However I would have thought if it was the pad moving and hitting the caliper it would happen only once per braking session? Nothing else appears to be worn/lose, and as this only happens when braking at a certain pressure I don't think it can be anything but brakes (but as with all odd car noise solutions... I'm open to suggestion as I once spent months trying to sort what I thought was a NS rear squeak... and it turned out to be OS bearing!).

Any ideas?

 

[Burnerman]

If the brake pad is slightly slack in its guides, you can expect a click on braking, but its only the one click until you brake again in reverse.
Does the calliper have stainless steel pad guides on these cars? I can' t remember but I have done them before.
Is the brake disc in good condition on the inside, and how worn are the pads......could the disc be gently touching the back plate?
John

 

[danhx]

Hi John

There are no metal guide plates on mine. I have checked the clearance of the (slowly disintegrating) back plate, all seems ok.

I changed the discs and pads in February due to an MOT failure on pads, and warning of a lip on the discs. I notice I already have a slight lip after around 3000 miles. There is still plenty of meat left on the pads.

If I manually move the brake pad to simulate it hitting the caliper the noise is very similar to what I hear. But I'm really confused about why it is happening - I assume - once per rotation of the disk.

I think the next course of action will be a strip/clean/assemble.

 

[Burnerman]

Did you fit quality pads, such as Apec or Pagid?
On one occasion I have noticed a size discrepancy, and those were Halford ones.
There's no evidence of drive shaft issues, is there.....clicking on full lock for example?
John

 

[danhx]

Pads and discs are Eicher.

Nope no noises on full lock or acceleration.

 

[Burnerman]

Just check that the ABS reluctor ring (where the drive shaft enters the hub) hasn't cracked and come loose.
Eicher stuff should be fine - Eurocarparts supply these.
John

 

[danhx]

Will get the car back on the jack tomorrow and have a look. Can't get a proper look with the wheel on.

Thanks for your help.