Brake Ringing Sound?

BeachBum

Jeep Newb
I've noticed a very "tinny" and slightly high pitched rattle/ringing sound when coming to a stop recently. This happens right before coming to a stop regardless of the speed I am decelerating from. (no it's not a grinding sound like when pads are worn out) Initially, I thought it was a loose exhaust manifold or heat shield. When getting an oil change a few weeks ago, the guys at the Jeep dealership told me it was my brake pads rattling against the rotor. They said they hit just about anything that could be loose with a hammer and could not recreate the sound. They said that the pads can get hardened and the very small (paper thin) space between pads and rotor can cause the brakes to ring like a bell. They suggested I either ignore it or replace my brakes to the tune of $1100. I'm obviously not having them replace my brakes for that amount, but (to me) the logic of it coming from my brakes sounds like BS. Frankly, I can't see how the mass of the rotors and/ or the pads could produce such a ringing sound. These are stock brakes with plenty of life on the pads and only 24k miles on the Jeep as a whole. I'd also like to avoid the game of replace the pads, that's not it, replace the rotors, that's not it, chase the exhaust, that's not it, etc... game. Just curious to know if anybody has had a similar situation and can confirm that it is (indeed) the brakes.
 

Pthorpe84

Moderator
Staff member
Do you only notice this when coming to a stop or does it make this noise even when driving? I had a similar noise and it was apparent even when driving around with out braking. I thought I had a bent flange....turns out it was a worn U-Joint.
 

BeachBum

Jeep Newb
Thanks for responding Pthorpe84. It only happens when braking (and stopping) and not all the way through the braking process. It only happens the last several feet of braking and (maybe associated) the last 2k RPM and below.
 

Pthorpe84

Moderator
Staff member
Thanks for responding Pthorpe84. It only happens when braking (and stopping) and not all the way through the braking process. It only happens the last several feet of braking and (maybe associated) the last 2k RPM and below.
You could just have noisy pads. I have had those a couple times. I am by no means an expert but that has been my experience.
 

Tim@snakecreek

Jeep Newb
Have you done a routine brake service yet? If not, start there and put a layer of "disc brake quiet" on the back of the pads. I use a Permatex brand spray on(on the right of the pic). And while you're at it take some sandpaper, a coarse grit will work best, on a flat surface and scuff up the friction material side of the pad. Do it several times and analyze the color change as you go, if it goes from a shiny almost black surface color to a light gray the pads were glazed and that can cause some harmonics during the apply and release of the pads. Make sure the caliper slides (on the left of the pic) and pads (where they contact the caliper mount (in the middle of the pic) have a high quality lubricant on them. Also make sure the pads move freely in the caliper mount. Most likely you'll have a insert that the pad sits in, take it out and clean it. A little goes a long way when it comes to lubrication and don't get any on the friction material or the rotor mating surfaces. Ya gotta start with the basics.

20190808_163612.jpg
 

BeachBum

Jeep Newb
Have you done a routine brake service yet? If not, start there and put a layer of "disc brake quiet" on the back of the pads. I use a Permatex brand spray on(on the right of the pic). And while you're at it take some sandpaper, a coarse grit will work best, on a flat surface and scuff up the friction material side of the pad. Do it several times and analyze the color change as you go, if it goes from a shiny almost black surface color to a light gray the pads were glazed and that can cause some harmonics during the apply and release of the pads. Make sure the caliper slides (on the left of the pic) and pads (where they contact the caliper mount (in the middle of the pic) have a high quality lubricant on them. Also make sure the pads move freely in the caliper mount. Most likely you'll have a insert that the pad sits in, take it out and clean it. A little goes a long way when it comes to lubrication and don't get any on the friction material or the rotor mating surfaces. Ya gotta start with the basics.

View attachment 2121
Good suggestion Tim. Thanks!
 

Kbar

Jeep Newb
I've noticed a very "tinny" and slightly high pitched rattle/ringing sound when coming to a stop recently. This happens right before coming to a stop regardless of the speed I am decelerating from. (no it's not a grinding sound like when pads are worn out) Initially, I thought it was a loose exhaust manifold or heat shield. When getting an oil change a few weeks ago, the guys at the Jeep dealership told me it was my brake pads rattling against the rotor. They said they hit just about anything that could be loose with a hammer and could not recreate the sound. They said that the pads can get hardened and the very small (paper thin) space between pads and rotor can cause the brakes to ring like a bell. They suggested I either ignore it or replace my brakes to the tune of $1100. I'm obviously not having them replace my brakes for that amount, but (to me) the logic of it coming from my brakes sounds like BS. Frankly, I can't see how the mass of the rotors and/ or the pads could produce such a ringing sound. These are stock brakes with plenty of life on the pads and only 24k miles on the Jeep as a whole. I'd also like to avoid the game of replace the pads, that's not it, replace the rotors, that's not it, chase the exhaust, that's not it, etc... game. Just curious to know if anybody has had a similar situation and can confirm that it is (indeed) the brakes.
Hi,

I’m no expert, but I do work on my own Jeep. I was getting a squeak from one corner of my Jeep and couldn’t figure it out. I was checking the suspension and anything that could be loose, rubbing, or rattling. Finally I pulled my brake pads and cleaned them, the calipers, and rotors. I re-greased everything, put it back together, and no more noise.

Apparently the cause was a “floating” brake pad that was not adhered to the caliper anymore. I just use grease for that, but I may start using the adhesive stuff they sell. My guess is it got knocked loose while wheeling.
 

BeachBum

Jeep Newb
So, the mystery was solved. After I had my lift installed, I started getting a ton of wobble. My shop and I were on the phone a lot with Metalcloak trying to figure out what the cause was. After way too much time, we decided to look into the balance of the tires. It turns out that they were way off. Apparently, the shop that mounted the tires used balancing beads. These beads not only didn't do a very good job, but were the cause of the noise. We would have never figured that out if we didn't install the lift and go through just about all other possibilities.
 

Cloaked Willys

Jeep Fanatic
Apparently, the shop that mounted the tires used balancing beads. These beads not only didn't do a very good job, but were the cause of the noise. We would have never figured that out if we didn't install the lift and go through just about all other possibilities.

Glad you found the cause. I have had really mixed luck with beads to balance out tires. They seemed OK in the old bias ply days buy with radials I will stick with standard balancing.
 
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