Left Front Grind

[94carolinaSHO]

Hey all,
I noticed yesterday going home from work that the left front is making a grinding noise. Its very dull. You feel it more than hear it. It only happened a couple of times and then a couple more this morning. Ive had the car for about a year and a half now and the PO had the brakes redone. So Im curious what should I look for? They dont squeal or anything like that and Ive never had any problems but im just curious to know what I should have an eye out for once I take the wheel off to have a look. Any suggestions?
Thanks a lot.

 

[sdpatt]

A quick visual inspection of the brake rotor for scoring and for the thickness of the brake pad would be a first step. Another brake check is to gently apply the brakes while the grinding noise is heard while the car is moving. A change in the sound may point to the brakes (or the wheel bearing).

A check for the wheel bearing condition can be done while driving. While rolling at about 30 mph, turn the steering wheel from side to side to change the load on the wheel bearings. If you hear a change in the low pitched grinding it indicates the bearing is not healthy. A more detailed check for the bearing is to jack up the left front to get the tire off the ground. Grab the tire at the 12:00 and 6:00 positions and try to rock the wheel on the bearing. There should be no play.

 

[94carolinaSHO]

cool. thanks for the info. I have heard of the bolts that hold the caliper on backing out. I wasnt sure if this could be it or something else. How hard is it to change bearings on these cars? She just turned 130K by the way if that matters.

 

[joesho_gb]

The the noise constant when the wheels start moving? Does it get worse when you hit the brakes? Does it get louder/more noticeable the faster you go?

If no, check the braking systems

If yes, it just might be the wheel hub bearing. Mine did that on the passenger side. Sounded like a grinding sound that just got louder and louder the faster you went.

Good way / easy way to check it is jack the car up, like you are going to remove the front tire. Once it's off the ground (block the car, so it doesn't slide, of course!), grab the tire with both hands, on hand on the left side of the tire, the other on the right, and push the tire. Try to see if it rocks back and forth. The steering may move a tad while doing this, but if there is any extra play in there, it could be the bearing.

Unfortunately, if it is, unless you have a 10-ton press and know how to pull the entire drivers side braking/steering/suspension systems out, it may be a job best left to the professionals.

Ran me about $150, parts and labor, took a little over an hour, and made the noise stop!

 

[94carolinaSHO]

Well I took a look at my left front rotor and lo and behold there is a 1/4'' wide groove cut into the middle of the rotor completely around. Now i know where ive heard that sound from. It sounds exactly like putting a rotor on a brake lathe. So what i dont understand is these pads have not been squealing at all. So what could be cutting this groove in so bad? Passenger side is not doing it but I may as well replace that too. Anybody have any suggestions on brake pads? I hear ceramics cut down on brake dust somewhat which would be nice. What Id really like is the 96 upgrade but I dont believe i have the time for it since i have this weekend to take care of this. Any thoughts.....?????
Thanks

 

[frosho]

Since you have a 94, the 96 upgrade would be easy for you to do if you can find some FN74 caliper brackets. With those brackets, it's a simple rotor and pad change. I have the 96 upgrade with Autozone ceramic pads up front and semi-metallic pads in the rear, and the rears do seem to get more dusty.

 

[94carolinaSHO]

where would you get the fn74 calipers? Not too many choices for junkyards here so im wondering if you could get them new or would that be too much? Is there an upgrade for the rears too?

 

[frosho]

I just looked at the Autozone website and it says they have the brackets for $25 a piece. I got mine at a junkyard, I think it was $20 for the pair.

SHO Source has a kit to upgrade the rear to the 11.6" rotors also, though many people say it's mostly a cosmetic upgrade since the front does most of the braking.

 

[94carolinaSHO]

I like the way this is sounding. Now with replacing the brackets what else is entailed? Any wheel bearing or anything? Its been a while since i have torn into the brakes on a car since I have been previously spoiled by a new vehicle. This is more fun though so I dont mind. Thanks for all the help.

 

[94carolinaSHO]

Well i just looked up the bracket on autozone. this is only the bracket that holds the caliper on. So if im correct the bracket is bigger size allowing for use of a bigger rotor. You dont need to get a bigger caliper? Just the bracket, rotor, and pads from a 96? Sorry for all the questions that are just plain simple. I should be able to answer them myself but I like to make sure ive got it right completely. Thanks.

 

[frosho]

You got it. No need for a bigger caliper.

 

[94carolinaSHO]

Well just to update. I took apart the front brakes and the right side wasnt too bad but the pads were pretty thin, the left side though was very thin with one pad pretty much non existent. I am very suprised that there are no squealer tips for these pads. So anyways I got new rotors, pads, calipers, brackets for the 96 model. I got the calipers with the brackets from a special going on at advance. Might as well since they were the same price as brackets anywhere else and they could get them overnight vice 3-4 days later. Now im in the process of painting the calipers red to match the car. I miss my baby. Especially since my truck only gets 16mpg highway!! Always something.

 

[Guido0136]

let us know how it works out, I'm thinking of getting my fronts done and had no idea that I could put 96 breaks on my 94. Thanks.

 

[94carolinaSHO]

Does anyone have any tips or anything i need to know about bleeding brakes. Since i have new calipers I have the system open right now and will have to bleed it back in. Thanks a lot.

 

[94carolinaSHO]

Always Something. DOH!!

Well I tried to get the calipers installed last night since they have had enough time for the paint to cure. Lo and behold the right side bolts up but the brake line does not. So I thought did i put the wrong caliper on the wrong side. Nope didnt matter. So Im guessing the parts guy gave me two left side calipers. I dont think that they will take back a caliper thats painted red. So I guess I will have to look for a left side brake line. Sometimes I really hate trying to depend on other people for things. I already dont take my cars into a dealership or anything. Now I guess i got to be even more careful about parts places. I didnt even think about looking at that. So lesson learned. just needed to get that off my chest. kdonethanx