Brake 'click-clack' noises

[ricof]

There is a bit of a strange 'click-clack' noise coming from the rear of the car - it only happens when I come off the brake pedal and only seemingly at slow/medium speed. Braking performance has not decreased. It does not happen when the car is cold from what I can tell.

Pads sticking in the calipers? Or something more sinister...?

987.1 Boxster

[LunarOne]

I had something similar - at slow speeds I'd heard a click clack coming from the back end. I took the rear wheels off, and dismantled the brakes thinking there must be a trapped stone somewhere!

The relief when I finally discovered the cause was immense. It happened after I took my car to a wheel repairer to have them repainted. Because I hate black wheels. It turned out that during the repainting procedure a small 5g wheel balancing weight had got inside the tyre. At slow speeds it clanked like a bolt in a washing machine. At higher speeds it was flung out against the inside of the tyre and the noise stopped.

[LunarOne]

Did you get to the bottom of this?

[Simon.b]

Mine started doing this after the pads had been replaced. Was only the rears for some reason. Stripped and checked twice never did stop it until changed I the pads again for a different brand. The noisy ones were Textar.

[ricof]

Interesting Simon^ thank you. I'm not sure I can recall what pads are on the rear.

Hopefully something not too onerous - one for the specialist when it goes on for some other work.

[Orangecurry]

ricof said:

There is a bit of a strange 'click-clack' noise coming from the rear of the car - it only happens when I come off the brake pedal and only seemingly at slow/medium speed. Braking performance has not decreased. It does not happen when the car is cold from what I can tell.

Pads sticking in the calipers? Or something more sinister...?

987.1 Boxster

ETA do you mean it has just started - not with new pads?

Missing backing plates? Do the 987 brakes have the spider-type? I would have thought noise means the pads are not sticking. Just whizz off a wheel and take the pads out and have a look. It's really not difficult.

Edited by Orangecurry on Wednesday 8th July 09:36

[ricof]

Orangecurry said:

ETA do you mean it has just started - not with new pads?

Missing backing plates? Do the 987 brakes have the spider-type? I would have thought noise means the pads are not sticking. Just whizz off a wheel and take the pads out and have a look. It's really not difficult.

Edited by Orangecurry on Wednesday 8th July 09:36

As far as I am aware it's just started (well within the last month or two).

The last time the car went in for some work, the handbrake mechanism was adjusted, not sure if this noise is related.

[Orangecurry]

Clack-clack when you come off the brakes usually means the pads are too loose when the piston is not pressing the pad.

Constant noise is more a 'stone trapped in caliper'.

So if you can - whizz a wheel off and have a look.

[ricof]

Orangecurry said:

Clack-clack when you come off the brakes usually means the pads are too loose when the piston is not pressing the pad.

Constant noise is more a 'stone trapped in caliper'.

So if you can - whizz a wheel off and have a look.

Would that mean the backing plates are missing/pads getting too thin?

[Rocket.]

Mine make this noise since I removed the adhesive pad dampers as I swap pads on my car for track days.

[LunarOne]

Are these spring clips (11) definitely in place? Taken from Design911 website.

[Orangecurry]

ricof said:

Would that mean the backing plates are missing/pads getting too thin?

The backing plates wouldn't suddenly go missing - which is why I asked if someone had recently changed the pads.
Aftermarket pads can be slightly too loose and loosen more over time, but not due to getting thin. Pad materials can break up and remain in place for a short while.... but I'm guessing

....there are too many possibilities without looking. Have you never done any pads? Any competent garage can inspect them.

ETA do you mean thin pads and no backing plates? Again - sounds possible, depending on the design.

Edited by Orangecurry on Wednesday 8th July 22:29

[ricof]

LunarOne said:

Are these spring clips (11) definitely in place? Taken from Design911 website.

Yeah - had a quick look today. Definitely there.

[ricof]

Dropped it off at the indie, will update in due course.

[A1VDY]

It's nothing to do with backing plates. It's the top and bottom of the steel backing to the pad being worn and moving up and down when the brakes are applied/released.
New pads of OEM spec like Bosch / Brembo ect will cure the problem..