Clicking sound when applying brake & turning steering wheel at the same time...

[Smartidiot]

So I have been quite annoyed by this clicking sound ever since I bought my second hand 2004 G35 Couple 5AT a year ago.. after doing some online research and had two inspections done by two mechanics.. I am 99%sure that the sound is coming from my front brake components as it only happens when i brake & turning my steering wheel..

However, I am unable to pinpoint which part of the brake is causing this irritating sound ..so after some further research.. here are the possiblities

1) When the previous owner replaced the OEM brake pads with the aftermarket ones.. he didn't do a good a job that the bedding procedure wasn't followed correctly. If this is the case, then the clicking sound can be eliminated simply by replacing the brake pads.. best scenario it is

2) Uneven rotor surface.. this is pretty self-explanary. .. the suraface of my front rotors are uneven so that when the pads are applied, it causes extra friction and thus making the clicking sound..if this is the case.. then the sound can be eliminated by replacing my front rotors.. cost slightly more expensive than 1)

3) The pistons within the rotors are becoming "sticky" after the car has been driven for 60,000 miles. Therefore when I release the brake, the piston is still screeching the pads and thus causing the sound...If this is the case, then my qusetion would be.. does anybody know if i can simply ask a mechanic (or delaership) to replace the existing piston out of the caliper without having to purcahse a new set of calipers (which are extremely expensive in Canada)???

I have contact a local dealership in Toronto today and they do sell pistons separately. but i'd like to know if ithe labor is gonna cost me an arm and a leg (or it may not even be possbile...)

Also, out of 3 scenarios how do i know for certain which one is the true cause ? (or maybe there are more possiblitiesthat i haven't considered here..)

this brake clicking sound is not THTA big of a deal for now..but it does annoy me to a point that I have loved my car a lot less.... any opinions are highly appreciated...

Robin

[Sentientbydesign]

Not sure if we already suggested this, but are you sure that your issue isn't covered by the grease, torque, and loctiting the rear axles. They make a creaking noise when you brake and accelerate.

I think we already mentioned this to you and you said it wasn't the problem, but I want to be double sure.

1) Is it possible that the previous owner removed the clips that reduce noise on the brake pads? This happened the first time I got a non-infiniti brake job done and they threw away the clips to fit a generic brake pad in there. This was accompanied by endless brake noise.

2) I don't see how this would cause your problem. Usually you'll feel brake vibrations in the pedal if you have an uneven rotor. This is "easily" checked by a professional.

3) On my I30, they sold a brake rebuild kit. It consisted of the grease, piston seals, and piston boots for the calipers. I think this should work fine for you unless the piston itself is severly damaged. The kit cost around $40.

[fbpem1]

1) Is it possible that the previous owner removed the clips that reduce noise on the brake pads? This happened the first time I got a non-infiniti brake job done and they threw away the clips to fit a generic brake pad in there. This was accompanied by endless brake noise.

not clips its brake shims on the back of the pads

2) I don't see how this would cause your problem. Usually you'll feel brake vibrations in the pedal if you have an uneven rotor. This is "easily" checked by a professional

its easily checked by anyone who dosn't even know anything. Do you see the steering wheel shake when you hit the brakes? front. Does your *** vibrate when you hit the brakes? rear.

If you want to get a little more in depth you could use the pencilometer test where you hold a pencil inbetween your fingers and put it on the wheel and see if it vibrates at the end of it.

3) On my I30, they sold a brake rebuild kit. It consisted of the grease, piston seals, and piston boots for the calipers. I think this should work fine for you unless the piston itself is severly damaged. The kit cost around $40.

Most commonly that would be the rear with the screw in pistions that lock up on those cars and maximas. Correct me if i'm wrong

Fronts are totally different and much easier to rebuild and only need rebuilt usually if they are leaking from behind the boot where the seal is the piston rides on.

To the OP:

What is probably going on the guy just hung pads and not new rotors, Get out a mic and see how many mm they are min spec is 22mm. Now have you replaced the brakes? this is wwhat needs to be done

Your choice of rotors (i have used brembo blanks for years)OE or GOOD Aftermarket pads (IE: NOT DURALAST or like)OEM Hardware kit

Pick up some PBC grease from the dealer or online parts sorce thats our default brake grease unless some comes with the pads. Now if you do go with aftermarket pads you need the pbc grease as its great grease. BUT if you go with factory pads it comes with two types of grease it comes with heavy pbc grease (gold) and molycoat grease (gray)

IF you go that route the grease should be applied to the pad as follows:Gold grease all contact points on the ends of the back of the pad (where it sits into the torque member) Run a line the gold grease on the back of each pad when its done. Run a line of gray grease on the back of each pad and then rub the two together.

Now for 04 there are two types of hardware kits i recommend buying both actually the outboad shim is coated in the tsb shim kit and it does work better heres the part number for that since its kind of hard to find or get someone in parts that knows what your talking about 41080-AM425. That piece will probably have to be ordered since its not sold much anymore now that all the 03-04's have run out of the brake pad warranty.

Well thats it for this epic post hope this helps and any questions feel free to shoot back any questions you have sir.

[Sentientbydesign]

not clips its brake shims on the back of the pads

Thanks for the correction. The correct term was escaping me.

Do you think the OP's problem is actually the brakes? I'm not doubting you, just questioning your opinion.

[Jacko3]

Smartidiot:

if the brakes turn out to be the issue, please don't forget to ask them to replace the brake fluids as well---they are hygroscopic. After years of absorbing water, they loose their viscosity and pressure building ability. Thus, for this reason, they can also cause the piston to function inconsistently, thus vibrations, and uneven wear on rotors as the brake is applied. Color of brake fluid has no bearing on whether it is good or bad---just change it. Let us know how it turns out.


Modified by Jacko3 at 4:55 PM 11/12/2008

[fbpem1]

Thanks for the correction. The correct term was escaping me.

Do you think the OP's problem is actually the brakes? I'm not doubting you, just questioning your opinion.

its either brakes or compression rods. two most common issues

Brakes is the first place to go since the shims are missing and they are aftermarket pads, i have seen countless 03-04 and 05 awd's come from independent shops and have complaints of brake noise chatter's, pops, and clicks. If thats the noise or not it needs to be fixed anyway without brake hardware and shims it can cause uneven pad wear since the shims also help distribute the force a bit.

[SteveTheTech]

It is most likely a brake related concern especially since the OP mentioned shotty repairs. Dry pads will definitely cause a clicking noise. The grease that Fbpem mentioned is great I really like the kit that comes with the OE pads it works so well and lasts almost forever.

[Smartidiot]

First of all, I really appreciate the amoun of info and replies I received here after one day of posting.. man .. i didn't know people on an Internet forum could be that nice!!..

as i mentioned in my first post.. this clicking sound has been persisting for more than a year (ever since i bought my car)... i have done a lot of online research myself ...some said that it could be my Compression rod gone bad.. some said it could be the wheel bearing.... and some said it coudl be the brake/rotors.. or even the front axle cilcking (no idea what that is..)

however, with the very limited knowledge that i have in car mechanic.. i am really unable to pinpoint the source of sound myself.. (which is why I brought my car to two different mecahnic over the past 12 months to have it checked and each time i needed to pay CAD $50 and the sound is still there after all..)

it has come to a point that i am really sick and tired of dealing with this issue and i am just tryinig to put up with it and pretend that i am not hearing anything.. but unfortunately.. everytime i drive a friend, (or a hot girl that i just met from a club).. the sound will come right back and they will start askign me..

"Why does your car sound like a 20 years old OldsMobile..."???.. man.that's just.. so humiliating...

having said all that.. i think i am just gonan buy a pair of "shims" next timei am replacing my front brake pads (hoepfully before the end of the yer).. and if that doesn't help eliminating the sound.. then i will buy a pair of new rotors.. if taht still doesnt' do the job... i will be lookin into replacing my compression rod one day.. (hopefully by then i am still keeping my car..)

but once again, thanks everyone for your valuable opinion.....

oh and one last question here.. i have heard of "rear axle click" issue on 03-04 G35 Coupe..what does that mean anwyays?? could there be a "front axle click issue" since the clicking sound on my car is coming from the front?!?!?

Thanks again.

Robin

[SteveTheTech]

Nico FTW!

We're always here to help.

There is no front axle click on a coupe since it's only a RWD car and there are no axles in the front.

Would it be possible to take a close up pic of your brakes? If you have any hosting issues feel free to email them to me(link in my profile) and I will put them up for you.

[gwoods]

sorry I'm late..

1> grease the back of the pads

2> if you still have a problem replace the pads and rotors, I wouldn't mess with turning those rotors even if they are in spec.

[fbpem1]

sorry I'm late..1> grease the back of the pads

Grease won't help if there is no shims back there on cheap aftermarket pads that are made of junk

[Smartidiot]

Thanks everyone.

one more question here.. can anybody explain to me what these components are and whether they could possibly be the origin of the clicking noise?

- Wheel bearing ???- tie-rod (is this the same as the Compression Rod that has been mentioned many times on this forum)?- CV Joint (Consant velocity joint) ????- Rear Axle ??- Ball joint??

Thanks again Guys!

[SteveTheTech]

Hey there, I'll take a few pics and highlight all the major components once I get home. Check back at ~6pm EST.

[SteveTheTech]

Well I suck at photo editing, i truly do and I have no patience for owners manuals, damn I should practice what I preach.

Here are a few pics of what's behind your front wheels. There are no front CV joints in the front.

[awdjdmtalon]

The tie rod is the black rod in the bottom center of the first pic. It is actually an inner and outer rod, that are held to each other buy the inner being a treaded rod and the outer is internally threaded. There is a jam nut that hold the two rods from moving by pressure applied to the outer rod.