Caliper Dragging?

Hello TW

First of all, the title of the thread was supposed to be caliper DRAGGING not DRAGON. Gotta love that swype autocorrect....

Anyway, my truck has developed an annoying squeek in the past week. I think it's brake related because it goes away the instant I hit the pedal. There's kind of a repetitive chirp coming from my pass. front tire as it rotates. The best thing I can relate it to is if you have hydraulic hood struts or trunk struts and you yank down on them really fast, that kind of chirp/hiss noise. I haven't jacked it up and taken the wheel off yet but I have verified that there isn't anything caught in between the rotor and pad (at least nothing large). Any ideas on where to start?

 

Edited title for ya......but dragon was pretty funny.

 

Depending on how far the pads are worn down......could just be the wear indicators that are chirping. I'd pull the wheel off and look at how much pad is left first.....and then look at the motors to make sure they aren't grooved.

 

Fixed it for ya

 

i had my one caliper seize up, lift it up and see if the wheel spins nice

 

Typo city in here!

I find it weird that the wear indicators would only make noise when the brakes AREN'T applied... I can't imagine those are the problem. Is there a way to adjust the front calipers like you can on the shoes on a drum brake? I'm thinking it's that or theres a little rock caught in it or something.

 

Damn autocorrect got me earlier! As for the calipers....no adjustment in them really.

 

Alright so the pass. front wheel spins a little hard and I can hear the faint squeek if I turn it fast enough. I haven't pulled the wheel off yet, I think I'm gonna try both rears too just to rule them out. It's kinda a slow process with only one jack and no jack stands (Yes, Unsafe but I figured it was fine for just jacking it up to spin the wheels. I'll definitely borrow one before actually removing a wheel) This is a pain without having the school auto shop at my disposal.

 

Alright I figured it out. My rotors have an ever-so-slight lip to them (mostly made of rust) on the outer edge and the noise maker is hitting that. So it's looking like new pads for the taco. You guys think I should turn the rotors too? Or get new ones? Or are they fine with a small lip? I've seen some crazy ass lips on some Porsche race cars I've helped work on that they've kept rolling on for awhile, so my first inclination is to just leave it.

 

anytime you replace pads...have the rotors turned, unless there isnt enough material to get an even turn. that way....pads wear in even with new rotor surface.

 

sounds good. thanks will!

 

Id check the price on new rotors ........ I had mine turned and put new pads on and still had a bad shake"....... It was the rotors.... 29$ each at the local parts housr and she drives like a caddy now...