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Calipers Scraping Rotors

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Old 07-08-06 | 05:51 PM
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Calipers Scraping Rotors

For some rare reasons my Driver side "rear" calipers sit real tight and close to the rotors. When driving you can literally hear it scraping the rotor. I thought the brake pads were out, but it still have a good amount left. Any idea what it could be? I'm thinking the hub assymbly or spindle? There's also a white scratch in the middle of the rotor that goes all the way around...

Let me know...
Old 07-08-06 | 06:02 PM
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It would have to be an issue with fit or something. Maybe the brake shim hardware is out of place, making the appearance that the caliper is rubbing.

Also look for things like stones that could have hopped in and rub. On my Maxima I had that once - I was absolutely baffled with what was making that horrendous scratching/squealing sound, until I finally removed the rotor. It was a small rock rubbing between the rotor and spindle.

Dave
Old 07-08-06 | 07:15 PM
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This happened on my VW and it was a wheel bearing, try jacking the wheel off the ground and wiggling it from left to right.
Old 07-08-06 | 08:17 PM
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Originally Posted by dgeesaman
It would have to be an issue with fit or something. Maybe the brake shim hardware is out of place, making the appearance that the caliper is rubbing.

Also look for things like stones that could have hopped in and rub. On my Maxima I had that once - I was absolutely baffled with what was making that horrendous scratching/squealing sound, until I finally removed the rotor. It was a small rock rubbing between the rotor and spindle.

Dave
hmmm. interested.. I'll have to take the thing apart and inspect it after it gets cooler...
Old 07-08-06 | 08:20 PM
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Originally Posted by 7-sins
This happened on my VW and it was a wheel bearing, try jacking the wheel off the ground and wiggling it from left to right.
no it can't be the wheel bearing. As I had lift the car all the way up and put it in first gear to listen to the wheel as it turns. It's just the damn caliper just seat extra tight on the rotor that's all. And when you drive you can really hear it scraping...
Old 07-09-06 | 01:26 AM
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Here's pictures:





Attached Thumbnails Calipers Scraping Rotors-dsc03435.jpg   Calipers Scraping Rotors-dsc03436.jpg   Calipers Scraping Rotors-dsc03437.jpg  
Old 07-09-06 | 01:32 AM
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Deff looks like something got stuck in there, I forsee you getting your rotors turned in the near future.

Last edited by Lupercal_CATS; 07-09-06 at 01:37 AM.
Old 07-09-06 | 02:03 AM
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The bolts that hold the rear caliper in place look identical, but aren't. The bolt heads and the bolt holes are labeled "G" and "L". Is there any chance bolt G is in the L hole and vice versa? I don't know if this would cause an interference, but it might.
Old 07-09-06 | 04:47 AM
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That seems pretty messed up. Do you know specifically what was rubbing the rotor? It shouldn't be possible for the caliper to rub the rotor if there is ample pad material, the pad is installed correctly, and the caliper is free to float on the pins. I would look at that closely and fix it. Uneven braking can be very dangerous. Does the car feel like it pulls to the side at all when braking?

-Max
Old 07-09-06 | 07:34 AM
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Pad clip..(brake hardware)..taking a look at the pic the mark lines up with the clip..Maybe it's bent.
Old 07-09-06 | 09:52 AM
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Originally Posted by primerGrey
The bolts that hold the rear caliper in place look identical, but aren't. The bolt heads and the bolt holes are labeled "G" and "L". Is there any chance bolt G is in the L hole and vice versa? I don't know if this would cause an interference, but it might.
Hmmm. I have yet to take off the caliper. But will see if the bolts are miss place.
Thanks



Originally Posted by maxcooper
That seems pretty messed up. Do you know specifically what was rubbing the rotor? It shouldn't be possible for the caliper to rub the rotor if there is ample pad material, the pad is installed correctly, and the caliper is free to float on the pins. I would look at that closely and fix it. Uneven braking can be very dangerous. Does the car feel like it pulls to the side at all when braking?

-Max
Actually I took off the brake pads and notice the front brake pad itself was getting rubbed on as well. It's quite confusing now. And I totally agree with you on it shouldn't be possible for the caliper to rub on the rotor... etc. And nope, the car when braking, it's normal. Just that when driving you can hear it scraping...

My brake pads are Hawk, (fairly new) and I only see one pin for it to hold the top. However there's also two hole on the bottom of the brake pad. Is there a chance I'm missing another pin there?


Originally Posted by misterstyx69
Pad clip..(brake hardware)..taking a look at the pic the mark lines up with the clip..Maybe it's bent.
No it's not bent. The whole scraping started, After the installation of the toe link and trailing arm. I just happend to take off the wheel and istall it back on like 10x or more to adjust the toe link so my alignment won't be off. I wouldn't think installing the toe link and trailing arm would cause the caliper to sit like that on the rotors?
Old 07-09-06 | 12:06 PM
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well just for ***** and giggles something EXACTLY like this just happend to me recently. However, it was on my front driver side rotor. There are 2 caliper bolts for the front and the bottom bolt has a washer that is supposed to go on. This washer managed to seperate from the bolt and hide its self under my car. Well the washer didnt go back on and the bolt is long enough to thread all the way till its just barely on the rotor. On right turns it would GRIND to all hell, i was very confused and knew it was more then the normal break in for rotors. Upon inspection i had a grind line just like the original poster, but it was on the inside. I look for anything that is in the path of the grind line and noticed the tip of the caliper bolt was starting to melt almost from the constant metal to metal.

luckily i caught it right away before it did too much damage. I feel that once you remove your caliper and brake pads you will notice RIGHT away what your problem is.
Old 07-09-06 | 12:08 PM
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there should be two pins for each side up front, then there are retaining springs. THe top and bottom hole on the pads are for the pins and the middle two are places where the springs clip in
Old 07-09-06 | 02:28 PM
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Originally Posted by fd3s_rx7
no it can't be the wheel bearing. As I had lift the car all the way up and put it in first gear to listen to the wheel as it turns. It's just the damn caliper just seat extra tight on the rotor that's all. And when you drive you can really hear it scraping...
that's not the way to check for bearing play, that's just checking for noise. try his suggestion and wiggle the wheel.

did you just do brake work or has it spontaneously started the grinding? i would say you're either missing a part or something is in there.

the first thing i would do is take the pad out and look at it...
Old 07-09-06 | 06:41 PM
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to check the wheel bearing you need to jack the car up and wiggle the wheel up and down

check the rack/tie rods etc by wiggling the whell side to side

bearing will also make nasty rumble noise at 35+ mph

you will prob need a new rotor btw but it is hard to tell the depth of the groove in pics...

pull the pads and see with the whell of it takes like 2 min to do
Old 07-09-06 | 07:55 PM
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I had a simlar probelm in the front, turned out the wheel bearing took a dump.. and the wheel would wobble and cause the disk to hit the caliper.
Old 07-10-06 | 03:01 PM
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yeah, like I say earlier I did took off the brake pads, and the weird thing was that it was also rubbing on the brake pads itself...?? I can't seem to see what was running in between the rotors and brake pads.
Anyways I shall take the whole thing apart today and inspect it more throughly..
Thanks for all the info guys...
Old 07-10-06 | 04:05 PM
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I don't recall any "pins" on the rear calipers, only ears that fit into designated gaps of the calipers and a spring to keep them seperated during installation.

I'm really curious. Be sure to post up whatever you end up finding.
Old 07-10-06 | 05:59 PM
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Yeah I'll keep you guys updated and post more pics...
Old 07-10-06 | 06:39 PM
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it is possible that something was wedged in there, did a buncha damage, then fell out or burned up. Even if the problem is gone that groove is gunna cause all kinds of noise,grinds, vibrations.

Inspect thoroughly then have the rotor turned or replace depending on extent of damage.
Old 07-11-06 | 01:01 AM
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Anyways I found what the problem is. The thread that holds onto the bottom caliper bolt was hollow and stripped... Therefore the bottom bolt did not have a even tight to even out the caliper with the top bolt... Thus the scraping...








since only the top caliper bolt can be tighten, therefore the bottom bolt has play to cause the top portion caliper to be seated closer to the rotors.... And this clip on the top portion was what causes the rubbing.











All that to for that.. hahaha.. Anyways if anyone has a Driver Side Rear Caliper for sale let me know...

Thanks
Old 07-11-06 | 08:49 PM
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I just bought a reman driver's rear caliper from autozone for 70 something after the core charge.
Old 07-11-06 | 09:21 PM
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oh man..good thing u found out what is was that was rubbing
i have the exact same problem right now, but it doesnt sound as bad as yours
you can heard the scraping when im near a close to a dead stop when its real quiet.
ima gonna take a look at mine soon
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