Noisy breaks on Corsa C

[andynic]

Hi All

Quick question, bought a car for my wife about 6 moths ago 06 plate Corsa but for the last 2 or so the front brakes have been quite noisy, or at least not silent, it almost sounds like a metal on metal grinding sound but not that loud.
Took it to the dealer and they say that its normal, the pads were new when we got the car and have 98% life left. Its down to the pad material. The disks are a little worn with a small lip on the outer edge but not bad.

Is this correct ? any one have experience with Corsa C front brakes being noisy.

Edited for my lousy spelling

Edited by andynic on Saturday 7th April 22:31

[Magic919]

Don't you hate it when your noisy breaks.

[stevieturbo]

Brakes on any car should not be noisy

[andynic]

one day I will learn to spell, should have asked my 9 year old she is far better than me.

[andynic]

Hymen said:

It was a typo, this is the Internet, who cares!

I'd like to say it was a typo but unfortunately, it was just me having a brain fart

As for the noise if you let you car stand for a few days in the wet and get a build up of rust on the discs, the sound is similar to this the first time you brake and scrub the rust off. I have gone out and done several hard stops from 60mph to see if it was just a build up but they make the same noise all the time. You can only here it when braking slowly from say 10 mph to a junction otherwise the road noise covers it. Think Vauxhall are telling me a load of st but I have not played with cars for 20 years and my mk2 escorts.

May have to take it to another garage and get them to test it bet Vauxhall still wont fix it as the will say brakes are not covered under the network Q warranty.

[jagracer]

Has someone put copperslip on the back of the pads? They may have just got some glaze on the pads or discs, this could depend on the type of pad fitted.

[stevieturbo]

Well if you arent happy, new discs/pads really arent expensive.

When Vauxhall looked at it...did they actually take the wheels off and inspect properly, or did they just have a glance at it ?

[andynic]

stevieturbo said:

Well if you arent happy, new discs/pads really arent expensive.

When Vauxhall looked at it...did they actually take the wheels off and inspect properly, or did they just have a glance at it ?

I have no idea how they checked it, my wife took it in and they had it for a few hours.

Have been looking an new discs/pads and your right they are not too expensive, actually like the Idea of changing them myself. Just need to buy some car type tools, I have had company cars for 20 years, this is the first car we have owned and I can actually have a go at, so could do with axle stands and a trolley jack first that adds a bit more to the price of fitting the brakes.

Figured I would give Vauxhall a chance to do it under warranty but that aint going to happen

[stevieturbo]

I wouldnt expect any car dealer selling a second hand car to offer warranty on brakes on a car sold 6 months ago.

Even a brand new car you would struggle.

Front discs/pads should be in the region of £50-60 from a motor factors.

Even from Vauxhall they arent that much dearer. I think their retail is around £75 + VAT ( assuming same as my Combo C 5 stud wheels. Oddly I think the 4 stud ones are more expensive )

[andynic]

Thanks for the info,

Just been reading on the Vauxhall owners forum and it seems to be a known problem with lots of owners being told the same as my wife. Vauxhall say the pad material is very hard and once it's bedded in to the discs it always makes a noise and its nothing to worry about, if they replace the pads it will be OK for a short while then will start making the noise again.

Probably still going to change the disks and pads myself because I just want to have a go .

Also noticed a split boot on the ball joint on what looks like a steering arm, so may have a go at replacing that as well.

[stevieturbo]

Track rod end, easy swap. Although you should get wheel alignment checked afterwards.

Again, while genuine Vauxhall parts are slightly more expensive, I would be inclined to use them.
Most aftermarket stuff available these days are pure dung and never last.

On my last Combo van I went through several bottom balljoints, track rod ends, steering arms etc All using aftermarket stuff and all within a very short period of time ( I do a lot of miles though )

My current 06 Combo which is clearly a much better van than the earlier models is around 180k and still on all these original parts, and all are still in great condition. Even I'm amazed at this !

[matt998cc]

i personally would do this

-strip front brakes and clean and brush everything with brake cleaner

-then look at the lip on the disc and the edge of the pads, this can sometimes be the cause of squealing, if you imagine when your braking the edges of the pad are just ever so slightly rubbing on the lip and squealing

-none the less this lip can be removed by tapping with a hammer and then filing nice and flat

- next i would get some emery paper and scrub the brake pad friction material clean

-now refit brake pads and smear a bit of copper grease on the backs of the pads

-dont forget to tighten up the caliper bolts


the brakes may squeal at first but thats just because you have cleaned the face of the pads perfectly flat, let the brakes bed in and see where you are from there.