Brake chatter

[Richie T]

When I drive the Cerb quite hard, after a couple of heavy breaking sessions there is a chattering noise coming from the brakes.This goes away again if I take it easy for a short time but I wondered if anyone new what actually causes this and if there is a relatively easy DIY fix for it. I thought I had seen an earlier thread on this but can't seem to find it.Does anyone else have the same symptoms or am I on my own????

[satman]

Think its a common thing...as sort of "they all do that sir!"...mine does it, and like you say seems to disappear after 'cooling' down...no idea why!!!

[Richie T]

satman said:

Think its a common thing...as sort of "they all do that sir!"...mine does it, and like you say seems to disappear after 'cooling' down...no idea why!!!

Cheers for that, at least I am not on my own.....

[whitey]

It's the brake discs heating up and expanding slightly. Nothing to worry about.

cheers
Whitey

[TVR SLag's BiL]

Does it go away when you apply the brakes very lightly? If it does its the rear pads moving in the calipers. They get caught by the warm disk. Some cars have springs fitted over the long split pins on the rear calipers to try and stop this.The only other way fix it is to 'bond' the pad to the piston with some sealant, high temp. I managed to get anti squeel shims and springs to go over the rear brake pins, stopped the clatter and the squeeling.

Hope this helps

>> Edited by TVR SLag's BiL on Wednesday 9th June 23:30

[swindorski46]

TVR SLag's BiL said:

I managed to get anti squeel shims and springs to go over the rear brake pins, stopped the clatter and the squeeling.

Sorry to drag this one up, but where did you get them from?

I've recently had new pads fitted in the rear and they're squeeling terribly. I was hoping it would go away, or at least die down, as the pads got worn in but it's still awful after a good few hundred miles.

It's getting dangerous now as I don't want to use the brakes it's that bad!!

[kojak69]

I thought i'd cured my squealing by chamfering the leading edge of the rear pads. However, its now squealing again. It makes you 'not want to brake' when flying up to a junction.., which is not recommended

[kojak69]

swindorski46 said:

TVR SLag's BiL said: I managed to get anti squeel shims and springs to go over the rear brake pins, stopped the clatter and the squeeling. Sorry to drag this one up, but where did you get them from? I've recently had new pads fitted in the rear and they're squeeling terribly. I was hoping it would go away, or at least die down, as the pads got worn in but it's still awful after a good few hundred miles. It's getting dangerous now as I don't want to use the brakes it's that bad!!

I would also be interested to know where you got them from. There are springs on one of the brakes, but not the other.

[swindorski46]

I've just been to my local TVR dealer and they claim that there's no such thing as "anti squeel shims or springs" and the only way to "Reduce" the squeeling is by using softer compound brake pads.

Answers on a postcard........

[350matt]

You can get a generic anti-squeal shim kit from halfords might need a bit of trimming to fit, alternativly take a pad along to a brake supplier and ask there.
Its a basic bit of engineering which is on nearly all cars, certainly features on my wedge.

Matt

[swindorski46]

350matt said:

You can get a generic anti-squeal shim kit from halfords

Just been there and the lad looked at me like I'd asked for a left handed screwdriver and confidently stated that they don't sell such an item.

[whatever]

They may not, anymore, I suppose. But see what google comoes up with and then phone someone up and talk to them. It somes up with quite a few hits.

[TVR Slag's BiL]

I take it we are talking about the rears?

The pads have a very thin shim fitted to the outside face. I think it’s made of some sort of composite material. This is then bonded to the back of the pad. I guess it is designed to absorb some of the vibration of the pad on the disc.

Ultimate 'Avoid Squeal' Set up

New disc's
New Mintex 1144 rear pads
45 degree Chamfer in the leading edge of the pad
Any squeal shim bonded to the back of the pad
Copper grease on the other side of the anti squeal shim
Pad held in place with the two standard split pins
Over these pins the return springs are fitted.

The return springs compress as the brake is applied then, when released the springs push the pad away from the disc stopping it catching on the disc as it rotates. This is supposed to stop the Clatter.

I understand that these springs were only fitted to early Cerbs. Indeed most of them have, most likely, corroded away or been lost on the garage floor. If I can I will post a piccy of the rear brakes tomorrow, right now I am stuck in work.