Odd Brake Noise

Alright guys, I’ve had this issue for a while now and haven’t been able to find anything on it.

The most common time I hear my brakes make a “clank” noise is after I start driving it from when it was parked. I figured it was just the brakes doing their thing after being parked for a while. However, I’m starting to hear it more now while driving and braking. When I hit the brakes I hear them clank as if a metal to metal contact. It isn’t loud, it’s more subtle. Best I could put it it’s as if they aren’t powered by brake fluid, but electrically powered. So at random times when you hit the brakes it’s as if the pistons just pop out to apply the pads. I took into the dealer in my town and they couldn’t replicate it as it’s not all the time it happens. I’ll be taking it to a different dealer but thought I’d check in to see if anyone’s had similar encounters.

 

^If this is from front brakes, it's likely normal, caused by brake pads rocking in the caliper. Typical characteristic of multi-piston non-floating calipers found in 4WD Toyotas and high-end sports cars.

Of course diagnosing a sound over the internet is never 100%. The sound should be most reproducible when doing forward/reverse direction changes.

 

it's the pads having a tad bit of room before slapping the rotor

 

Awesome guys! Could be it. I haven’t really been able to pin point the originating source but that seems to be able to explain it. I appreciate the info!

 

It may have bad retention clips/spring on caliper/pads. Easy fix with new hardware kit.

 

I have a question for you, when it happens, does it only happen once per direction of travel? So if you start it drive hit the brakes it makes the noise, drive again and it doesn’t make the noise but throw it in reverse and it clanks but reverse some more and it doesn’t make the noise? Because if it does then my truck does it too

 

If I follow correctly, yes that sounds about right for what I experience.

 

Sounds like the same is happening to my 2013 tacoma, what was the outcome? did you get it fixed?

 

Usually when my truck is making a "new" noise, it's because I've turned the stereo off and am driving with the windows down.

My '16 clanks like people in this thread are describing. Turn the music back on.