Rattling Brake Pads

[cobraBLACK]

I've had this horrible noise when going over medium-sized bumps in the S4 recently.

I had it in the garage on Friday and they could hear the noise but struggled to find the source.

The only thing they could find was that the nearside front brake pad sits a little loose - but there's nothing wrong with it. No idea what make they are (probably OEM)

Has anyone had this problem and solved it?

 

[vrbob]

I had this on my old S3 8L.

Noise was really annoying and i traced it back to my rear pads. I had only replaced them recently and was sure they were ok but turns out the pads i bought didnt have the rubber backing that better quality ones had and so rattled against the caliper. You may just need a shim on the outside of the pad to make it fit more snugly and stop it rattling in the caliper.

i just bought some better quality pads and fitted them et voila noise was gone.

 

[cobraBLACK]

I was tempted to get new pads but even the garage owner said it'd be a waste of money since there's plenty of wear left in them.

Did you look into the anti-rattle shims before you bought new pads?

 

[vrbob]

The pads i bought didnt come with shims and there wasnt any on the old ones i took off so i assumed (probably a mistake) that there wasnt any. Now as the rear brakes only do 30% of the actual braking (other than handbrake) i hadnt spent alot on the pads so just binned the crap ones and spent £30 on some mintex ones (good brand cheap prices) they had rubber on the backs off the pads and were a better fit so just swapped them over and problem solved (without any shims).

If you can get some new shims you can try that first and see if your problem is sloved if not then maybe some new pads will be in order. Just have a look at them before you purchase to see what they have on the backs and compare to the ones your taking off.

 

[Jama665]

Why not try going over bumps with the break just on so its not really slowing you down but the slacks been taken up, that would surely give you some idea if the brake pads are loose. Just an idea

 

[cobraBLACK]

Why not try going over bumps with the break just on so its not really slowing you down but the slacks been taken up, that would surely give you some idea if the brake pads are loose. Just an idea

Yep. That would confirm it alright.

 

[holmefield]

I've got the same problem just not sure whether its the front or back pads.Will the shim justnot fall out again after a few days, what keeps the shims secure???

 

[cobraBLACK]

No idea. I think I had them on an old car but I can't recall.

 

[cobraBLACK]

Why not try going over bumps with the break just on so its not really slowing you down but the slacks been taken up, that would surely give you some idea if the brake pads are loose. Just an idea

I tried it a couple of times this afternoon and it didn't make a sound when I braked (hard to be certain the bumps were severe enough to have caused it though).

 

[Jama665]

Ha Ha thats the thing with all these types of problems. You'l have to find one that does then go back round lol. I hate rattles on cars so spent lots a time trial testing all sorts things to find where they come from.

 

[defsix]

Take out the breakpads and sit them in a bed of copper grease when you put them pack in. When washing the car with a power washer avoid washing the area where the pads are.

 

[cobraBLACK]

Take out the breakpads and sit them in a bed of copper grease when you put them pack in. When washing the car with a power washer avoid washing the area where the pads are.

What does that do?

I don't use a pressure washer but, when I do wash the car, I usually don't use it until the next day, at which point the wheels 'stick' as I reverse from my space.

 

[holmefield]

Take out the breakpads and sit them in a bed of copper grease when you put them pack in. When washing the car with a power washer avoid washing the area where the pads are.

Will this stop the rattles??? + are you meant to only put one side of the pad in or full dip it in grease???????

 

[stevewr1]

Will this stop the rattles??? + are you meant to only put one side of the pad in or full dip it in grease???????

You must dip the pads and discs in a bed of copper grease and refit! Bahahahahaha! ***! DO NOT!

 

[Petedavies]

I am currently experiencing this problem and it has come down to power quality pads diagnosed by my mechanic, he said they have about 5-6mm play in them. This weekend I will be swapping out the euro car parts ones for brembo pads. The cheap pads caused rattling at slow speed and clunking under breaking. Lesson of the day 'DON'T BUY IMPORTANT PARTS FROM EURO CAR PARTS' pay the extra and buy quality. I have relied on euro car parts for years but they keep failing me when I thought they could be trusted to supply correct parts.

 

[norris_309]

I had a similar problem with my 2004 tdi a4 avant.
After a 5-10 minutes drive i'd get a clunk when coming to a stop & also rattling over small ish bumps, such as over gutter drains etc...

Turned out the front pads were knocking. I thought it was a lack of 'shim' as i've had on other cars, but it was cheap pads in the end.
The ones on the car didn't have the sticky pad like the new ones i'd bought.
I bought the Pagid ones from ECP and they've been fine.

Now I just need to get to the bottom of my intermittent front end knocking!!!... lower control arms now changed & still doing it! uppers next I guess... great!