Brake Calipers
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 8
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Brake Calipers
Disclosure, I am a female who knows very a little about the mechanics. Trying to learn fast because I have a c4.....
Bought this car 2 months ago. I heard a whining sound in the rear when I first proceed forward (to me it sounded like it was coming from the exhaust. That is what I took in in for. After having my car for about 5 days I was told all my brake calipers were sticking that is what was causing the sound. He said I needed to replace all 4. $800.00 later I still hear the sound, my brakes feel bad where they didn't before and now when I start out cold the red brake warning light now flashes & then goes off. The brake warning light did not come on ever before I took it in. I'm taking it back Monday but I'm afraid I got screwed and perhaps I may be charged for something else I don't need. Car is 1987 & has 58,000 miles. Also I'm afraid to drive it now as the warning light now comes on briefly, afraid it isn't safe to drive. BTW I took it to the place that was recommended on this board that is supposed to be most familiar with corvettes in my area. They also have a 5 star rating. Does this sound right!
Thanks!
Bought this car 2 months ago. I heard a whining sound in the rear when I first proceed forward (to me it sounded like it was coming from the exhaust. That is what I took in in for. After having my car for about 5 days I was told all my brake calipers were sticking that is what was causing the sound. He said I needed to replace all 4. $800.00 later I still hear the sound, my brakes feel bad where they didn't before and now when I start out cold the red brake warning light now flashes & then goes off. The brake warning light did not come on ever before I took it in. I'm taking it back Monday but I'm afraid I got screwed and perhaps I may be charged for something else I don't need. Car is 1987 & has 58,000 miles. Also I'm afraid to drive it now as the warning light now comes on briefly, afraid it isn't safe to drive. BTW I took it to the place that was recommended on this board that is supposed to be most familiar with corvettes in my area. They also have a 5 star rating. Does this sound right!
Thanks!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,451
Likes: 336
From: Greater Cincinnati Area.
"Whining sound" could be dragging brakes, but you normally can smell them and they get very hot making it obvious that they are sticking.
It's possible, but it sounds like it is something else because they were all replaced and they sound is still there?
I haven't done this with my Vette and maybe they are different, but on other vehicles, the brake light flashing after bleeding the system is typically caused by the pressure imbalance valve not being positioned properly. This can be remedied by proper bleeding and usually isn't a big deal. The emergency brake switch can also cause this in other vehicles, but after a brake service it is usually the imbalance valve.
This is different from the "ABS" light, by the way. That indicates a problem with the antilock brakes, and may not be an actual, hydraulic, problem with the brakes at all.
Hope it works out for you. I'd hate to think a mechanic from this board, or recommended on this board, wouldn't make it right.
It's possible, but it sounds like it is something else because they were all replaced and they sound is still there?
I haven't done this with my Vette and maybe they are different, but on other vehicles, the brake light flashing after bleeding the system is typically caused by the pressure imbalance valve not being positioned properly. This can be remedied by proper bleeding and usually isn't a big deal. The emergency brake switch can also cause this in other vehicles, but after a brake service it is usually the imbalance valve.
This is different from the "ABS" light, by the way. That indicates a problem with the antilock brakes, and may not be an actual, hydraulic, problem with the brakes at all.
Hope it works out for you. I'd hate to think a mechanic from this board, or recommended on this board, wouldn't make it right.
Last edited by confab; Oct 7, 2016 at 10:49 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,478
Likes: 254
From: Downers Grove Illinois
I can't tell for sure from your description if the original problem was the calipers, but now it seems like they didn't bleed the brakes properly after replacing the calipers. They need to redo that and should not charge you for it as it looks like it was not done properly. Once that is fixed hopefully we can help you figure out the noise.
Is the noise when you first go forward after you hit a certain speed? On my '92 it does something similar when it tests the ABS (Antilock Braking System) pump. I was a bit worried until I figured out what it was.
Is the noise when you first go forward after you hit a certain speed? On my '92 it does something similar when it tests the ABS (Antilock Braking System) pump. I was a bit worried until I figured out what it was.
Last edited by JimLentz; Oct 7, 2016 at 10:54 AM. Reason: Info on ABS
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Park City Utah
^This is absolutely correct. Listen to Jim. 
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
I can't tell for sure from your description if the original problem was the calipers, but now it seems like they didn't bleed the brakes properly after replacing the calipers. They need to redo that and should not charge you for it as it looks like it was not done properly. Once that is fixed hopefully we can help you figure out the noise.
Is the noise when you first go forward after you hit a certain speed? On my '92 it does something similar when it tests the ABS (Antilock Braking System) pump. I was a bit worried until I figured out what it was.
Is the noise when you first go forward after you hit a certain speed? On my '92 it does something similar when it tests the ABS (Antilock Braking System) pump. I was a bit worried until I figured out what it was.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Aug 2016
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,674
Likes: 191
From: Shit Creek, USA
Reads like my experience with nearly every shop I've used. Mis-diagnose the problem, hang new expensive parts, No fix to original issue, new issues galore. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Based on your description, my guess would've been bearings. Either hub or u-joints. But I too am not a mechanic. I just play one with my C4. As I have done with all my cars for 43+ years.
When I took my truck to a highly recommended shop in Waterloo, SC for a total brake job, it came back with binding front calipers. I can assure you there was zero "whine" from that. I whined plenty, not the truck. Just locked up front wheels.
Based on your description, my guess would've been bearings. Either hub or u-joints. But I too am not a mechanic. I just play one with my C4. As I have done with all my cars for 43+ years.
When I took my truck to a highly recommended shop in Waterloo, SC for a total brake job, it came back with binding front calipers. I can assure you there was zero "whine" from that. I whined plenty, not the truck. Just locked up front wheels.
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