Noise When Braking - What's Your Guess?

[kerrton]

Ok it seems like I've got another new noise developing, I'm really starting to believe my Rogue was built on a Friday afternoon before the long weekend.

So I'm getting what sounds like brake noise, but only under very precise circumstances:

Put the car into reverse first thing in the morning, start rolling backward, lightly apply brake pressure and hear a distinct "clunk", very loud and clear, sounds like pad-on-rotor noise to me. I continue rolling backwards and braking on/off and hear no noise, it only does it the first time I touch the brakes in reverse. If I stop, put the car in drive, roll forward lightly braking - no noise. Then put the car in Reverse again, roll backward and as soon as I lightly apply brake pressure I get the "clunk" again. Continue lightly braking in reverse, no additional noise.

Brakes are pretty quiet under all other driving conditions, except for the typical pad on rotor noises that you occaisionally expect. This noise seems to occur regardless if I turn the wheel or if I drive straight backward, I was starting to wonder if it was a front end component making the noise but turning the wheel doesn't seem to make a difference, and the clunk coincides exactly with the first application of the brake pedal when rolling in reverse. I can't explain why it only happens in reverse, and only the first time I apply the brakes after just staring out in reverse??!!

So what's everybody's best guess, bad caliper or rotor? I don't have time to take it in for a little while yet so I was interested in everyone's opinions, thanks.

[philipa_240sx]

Hmmm, this one has me slightly puzzled. It could be the pad shifting inside the caliper bracket which is not a big deal.

I will see if mine does the same.

[kerrton]

After messing around with it this morning again I was thinking something similar since it only does it on the first application of brake pressure it seems like something is loose and shifts, like the pad within the caliper. I might have time tonight to check it out on my own and save having to take it to the shop.....

[harryg]

abs self-test???

[kerrton]

Ok, took the Rogue to my Nissan Service Dept., did a demo of the brake noise for them in the parking lot, service manager said "I've never heard a brake noise like that before, sounds like a problem". The inspected the front brakes which was clearly the source of the problem, found nothing obviously wrong, but the caliper slide pins were dry so they lubed them up and the noise is gone.

That doesn't really satisfy me because I still don't undertand what the source of the loud "clunk" was, but the noise is gone and they did a full brake disassemble and lube on my front brakes free under warranty so I'm not complaining.

Philip, I'm starting to be convinced that you're right about the brakes requiring yearly disassemble, cleaning and lubrication. Once I get time I'll be doing my rear brakes myself. This is disappointing to me however because I've had disc brakes for years, never had to do any maintenance like this and never had any problems. Maybe I just got lucky in the past......

[philipa_240sx]

Philip, I'm starting to be convinced that you're right about the brakes requiring yearly disassemble, cleaning and lubrication. Once I get time I'll be doing my rear brakes myself. This is disappointing to me however because I've had disc brakes for years, never had to do any maintenance like this and never had any problems. Maybe I just got lucky in the past......

Maintenance... Maintenance... Maintenance.

IIRC, you did service your brakes last year but did not pull the either the pads or calipers...

To do it properly requires complete disassembly, cleaning and lubing. IMHO, this should be done every spring to clean the junk that has accumulated all winter.

[jet lee]

I do have same problem. Nissan Service Dept told me that was brake oil 7mm low. I still don't undertand either.

[kerrton]

If the fluid was low I guess this could cause the caliper pin not to maintain constant contact with the caliper and cause a clunk noise when the brakes are engaged, but I'm not sure if it would be loud enough to clearly hear inside the vehicle - who knows.

Also I'd wonder why your Rogue is low on brake fluid already........

[tikus]

When your brake discs worn down on 4 of them, brake fluid level will down, the first top up will be fine, but second time brake fluid level is low again, time to check your brake wear-out and time to change.