odd brake noise in reverse

[93euro]

ok so my '93 lumina makes an odd, low pitch howling noise when going at less than 1 MPH in reverse. it never makes the noise while going forward. the noise also seems to come from the front of the car, and is made only with the brakes applied. ideas?

[Bolt_Crank]

low pitch howling...

my car does it once and awhile... it could be the half-shafts, or so I hear.... or wheel bearing... but that should sound like a buzzing/humming noise when going forward at highers speeds...

[joey b]

Cheaper brake pads. If you wanna get rid of it buy 50 dollar pads.

[Brian P]

I have $50 ceramics at all 4 and the rears still do it. THe shims on the back of the pad are supposed to help eliminate noise, but when the pads get older it happens regardless. You could spray some quiet-spray on the back of the pads and reinstall them, but it's not a permanent fix.

 

I should note that the only set of pads I put in the back that stayed quiet all the time were the Raybestos PG+'s

[1990lumina]

My car doesn't make that sound...but then again I don't know if the back brakes are actually functioning...apparently they are, but something tells me different lol

[phantomshado]

look for the t60's on your front calipers, the bottom one in particular, they may have fallen out, its happened to me.

[jdcutty]

look for the t60's on your front calipers, the bottom one in particular, they may have fallen out, its happened to me.

 

I've had the top one come out on me on the highway, in construction, with traffic backed up. 65-0 hit the brakes and the pedal drops to the floor,no right front brakes, scary situation. Caliper was resting on the inside of the rim.

 

Anyways, back on topic, it may just be time to replace the pads. Mine did that (mine sounded like a loud, sqeaky fart ) and I just replaced them (with the cheap ones I might add) and it never happed again.

[White93z34]

hmm i've never had a problem with rear pads makeing noise and i use the cheep pads and rotors on the back.

[Regal_GS_1989]

How old are your pads?? Our 97 lumi was starting to do that. It howled like a bitch when you would creep back in reverse, but it still stopped just as good as it always had. Then, when i looked at the pads, i realized that they were worn down a lot. One side had no brake pad material left on it. :shock:

[93euro]

How old are your pads?? Our 97 lumi was starting to do that. It howled like a bitch when you would creep back in reverse, but it still stopped just as good as it always had. Then, when i looked at the pads, i realized that they were worn down a lot. One side had no brake pad material left on it. :shock:

uhhhh....its possible that they have over 26000 miles on them....i purchased the car with 70000 miles on the odo, and there's 96k on it now....th rear brakes have been completely replaced twice (thanks for the crappy system GM) but i dont think the fronts have been touched yet...

[dohc v6]

i just had the same thing happen to me. but it has been raining like crazy. i just replaced the front pads but the rear are the cheapest you can buy. i will have to change them out

[DaveFromColorado]

get some synthetic brake caliper grease, and grease up the pad where it contacts the caliper (not the rotor surface) - any metal to metal contact can cause that.

 

also, ceramic pads tend to ware into rotors faster then semi-metalic/organic (asbestos) pads do, so you may want to have your rotors turned, or if your rotors have a nice mirror finish too, get 'em turned, that will also help eliminate any noise - and finally, if you have the rotors turned, buff out the machining grooves with a semi-course sandpaper (usually I use the "dark" abrasive pad on my angled die-grinder) as those groves will cause your pads to skip and create more headaches (and brake chatter)

 

--Dave.