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Possible Brake Caliper Problem- Video provided for analysis

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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 03:23 PM
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Default Possible Brake Caliper Problem- Video provided for analysis

I had posted about a noise I was periodically hearing in a thread below titled "dragging noise". In that thread many indicated that it might be the brake. After looking further into this, I think they might be correct. The whole caliper on the driver side seems very easy to rock back and forth. Although I didn't take the tire off on the passenger side, I don't seem to get the same movement when I try with that caliper.

I took a short video of this movement (you can also hear the movement) and I'd appreciate it if people could view it below and let me know if this normal or not. If not, I assume the bolt on the top of the caliper needs to be tightened, but I will say when I just tried that, I couldn't get it to budge. Not sure how this is supposed to work. Please check this video and let me know thoughts.



Thanks!
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 04:20 PM
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Your entire bracket is moving it looks like. you need to tighten down the bolt with its thick washer. Maybe you forgot the washer the last time you had the brakes off.
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 04:23 PM
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Since the caliper design only uses pistons on one side, the caliper must float.
There should be side to side motion, but you may need to replace the guide pins or lubricate them. Make sure the bolts that hold the guide pins in are tight. (not the bracket bolts)

I cannot tell if the bracket is moving or just the caliper is moving. If the bracket is moving, you need to make sure the bracket bolts are tightened.

Last edited by TEXHAWK0; Jan 29, 2009 at 04:25 PM.
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 04:38 PM
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Looks like the entire bracket is moving.
Here are the bolt torque specs. When I did mine, I went down to the local dealer and purchased new bracket bolts..
Brake Caliper Guide Pin Bolt 31 N·m 23 lb ft
Front Brake Caliper Mounting Bracket Bolt 175 N·m 125 lb ft
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 04:42 PM
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I am not familiar with all the part names, but let me describe. The part that is moving back and forth is the part with my hand on it (with the Corvette writing). This entire assembly moves back and forth and with it the rotor moves back and forth (which is the sound you hear). I assume the other piece is the bracket and that does NOT move.

I personally have never taken the brakes off the car. I did have them removed once several years ago when ceramic pads were put on. A professional did that, however, not me. I painted the calipers some years back as well, but I left the assembly on when I did it.
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 04:43 PM
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He must be missing that washer, Everbody torques these huge bolts as tight as they can usually.
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 04:45 PM
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Without the lug nuts on to hold the rotor down it will move with the calliper.
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 04:46 PM
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Originally Posted by stabori
Without the lug nuts on to hold the rotor down it will move with the calliper.
Okay, so are you saying that this movement is normal?
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 04:52 PM
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Just make sure the caliper bolts are tight and you should be fine. You will get movement with a sliding calliper, the noise will go away if you bolt the caliper down.
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 05:06 PM
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Originally Posted by S2K
Okay, so are you saying that this movement is normal?
Yes. Without the wheel on the rotor should move with the caliper. The caliper bracket(not the part with the corvette writing) should not move.

Also didn't you say you only hear this noise when you let the clutch out? If that is the case you can ignore all the advice about brake calipers. If you had a loose brake caliper bracket you would hear it at other times as well. I would be willing to bet the problem is with the clutch.
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 05:15 PM
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Okay, thanks guys. Disappointing because I hoping this would fix it. Everything with the caliper seems okay.

With regards to the noise. Yes, it is at very low speed while I am riding the clutch. I was able to get it to occur again today, but as always it went away
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 05:23 PM
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Originally Posted by S2K
Okay, thanks guys. Disappointing because I hoping this would fix it. Everything with the caliper seems okay.

With regards to the noise. Yes, it is at very low speed while I am riding the clutch. I was able to get it to occur again today, but as always it went away
Best advice is to try and get it on video with sound. Kind of hard to diagnose when we can't hear it. I'm not familiar enough with clutch assemblies to diagnose but hopefully someone else will chime in. You may want to bring this thread up to the top of the page at about 7PM central time, as the forum seems to be really busy around then. Good luck.
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 06:41 PM
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Since the rotor is loose with the wheel off, you can always run the lug nuts down against the rotor, then see if you get the same movement of the brake caliper.
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 07:21 PM
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Originally Posted by TEXHAWK0
Since the rotor is loose with the wheel off, you can always run the lug nuts down against the rotor, then see if you get the same movement of the brake caliper.
It looks to me like the bracket is moving. if you let up on the clutch (pedal down) you will have less load (forward movement) that would allow the rattle. If you can get it to start rattling and then press on the brakes and the rattle stops. Then what you just did, was place load on the brake system and it removes any play. (rattle stopping)
If the rattle continues with the brakes under a load (stopping) it's probably not the brakes. Otherwise you found the problem. (Loose Bracket)
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 07:57 PM
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The bracket is definitely not moving. I can see how the movie makes it look that way, but it really isn't. Again if by "the bracket" we are talking about the thin piece of metal that my hand is not on.

The sound is not a rattle. If you could please see the following thread which actually describes this issue in more detail:


http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...ing-noise.html
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