Went to Discount Tire in Cary to get my tires balanced and rotated and now when I brake I hear a scratching noise on my front passenger side, but can't figure out what it is! I took the tire off and don't see anything wrong and my braking is fine. I just can't figure out what the deal is! Anyone have any idea what it could be or how to fix it?

Ben

 

Could be as simple as a small rock or something in the brake pad...

 

is your rotor getting chewed up anywhere?

pop open the caliper and check it out, that should get whatever is stuck in there out, too.

 

I know this sounds pretty stupid, but how do I get the caliper off? I never had anyone around to teach me this stuff! I do ok, but never messed with too much!

 

Hey, no problem... It's only 2 bolts on the back of the hub (or whatever it's called)/spindle. Could be a 13mm? A fairly knowledgable noob could do this...

 

Sorry what I meant was, how do I get the bottom one off if it won't budge? I tred and tried and that joint is stuck! I almost picked my car up off of the jack stand a few times until I gave up! I might use this as an excuse to tell my wife that I need some Powerslot rotors and some new brake pads, even though that is the truth my stock rotors are rusty as hell on the inner ventilated part.

 

hit it with some PB blaster and/or heat. be careful you don't snap one of those bolts though... that creates quite a headache.

 

If it has never been off before it will be difficult. What I did was managed to slide myself under the car and used my legs and feet on the breaker bar and it slowly came off. Just be careful, use jack stands everywhere just in case.

 

^ heck yeah! I'm paranoid about my car ever falling on me! I had my brake pads changed around 32,000 and I just hit 60,000! I figured if my brakes were going that it would be a squeal sound instead of scratching! either way, I'm gonna see if My wife will let me order some new rotors with some new pad! It might give me a chance to repaint my calipers as well. Where is the best place to get some rotors and what kind should I get?

 

Slotted rotors with Axxis/PBR Ultimates is a great combo. Only paint the calipers black, anything else will look "ricey".

 

i was changing my friends brakes on his bmw... stupid me used that crapy screwjack that bmw supplies, not a regular hydro jack. i did put his rim under the frame of the car though, but as i went to look back to put the ratchet on the bolt the car slid back and almost crushed my head. the parking brake was engaged but the rear was up. anyway, learned from my mistakes, messed up a nice rim, but i'm alive lol.

 

^^^
you are very lucky.
Jackstands and wheel chocks at all times unless all 4 wheels are off the ground.

 

hey i dont know if u got it fixed or not....but i had a similar problem

my brakes where doing the same thing...and i changed the pads and rotors and it still kept doing it


so i took everything apart and took a look at it all...the metal tab that holds the pads in was bent a little and scratching the rotor and i filed it down a bit so it wasnt touching and the noise stopped...all better