rubbing noise

[andy lux]

Evening all...
Decided to take the car out this evening but noticed a rubbing/brushing noise from the rear of the car that got faster as road speed increased and got louder as I applied the brakes. Any ideas? Apologies for being a complete mechancal doofus!!

[bervie]

Sonds like youv'e got something stuck around the brake caliper like a stone which is rubbing on the disc.

[wildego1]

Hi Andy!
Either you've run over a cat and it's wrapped around the axle or maybe your brake pads are worn down to the rivets/sticking on, or hopefully ,yeah just a stone caught.
Try aplying the handbrake lightly while coasting to see if the noise alters.
Martin.

[the dodger]

wildego1 said:

Hi Andy! .....or maybe your brake pads are worn down to the rivets/sticking on, ... Martin.

Rivets? I do hope not!
Check for loose caliper too.

[andy lux]

Thanks all, I'll check the pads etc next time I see the car during the daylight!! Wish I'd bought it with me today....

Incidentally...how thick should the pads be? (like I said...I'm a mechanical numpty)

[the dodger]

Much thicker than thin. You'll know when you see them - if you can't they're too thin.

[chimyellow]

I believe that the minimum thickness should be 2mm (information from Haynes)

[PeterC]

Has the car stood for a while? Do you keep the car in a garage or outside?

The simplest explanation would be that the discs have gone rusty and the pads are binding in the calipers a bit all through lack of use. A simple strip, clean and rebuild would fix it - you can check on condition of pads at the same time.

Rivets are not likely to be your problem, these days as most brake pads are glued to the steel back plate not riveted.

[andy lux]

The car had only been stood for about a week...I do leave the handbrake off and the car in gear too.