I replaced the pads and rotors on my car last month and since then theres been a rattling sound coming from my wheel area when I brake.

I guess the best way to describe the rattle is if you guys have ever seen kids clip a playing card on their bikes and the spokes make that rattling noise as they ride.

anyway...It rattles also when I'm off the brakes but it's a lot quieter.

Has anyone ever had this problem? I'm going to be flushing my fluid next week and if anyone has any suggestions as to what to check and look out for, that's be great

 

I had that problem when I put my 16" Civic wheels on, but that was because of the dynamic balancing weights rubbing my caliper (barely any clearance with civic wheels )

As for your problem, does it sound like a metal-on-metal sound, or metal-on-platic, or plastic-on-plastic? When I think of the sound you described with a kids bike and a baseball card, I think of the sound my car has made when that plastic under-liner comes loose and hits my tires.

In fact, if for some reason your fender liner is rubbing your tire, it would be quiter while cruising, and louder when you applied the brakes because the nose of the car would dip a little, causing more rubbing.

I could be 100% wrong, but check that out tomorrow. Maybe jack it up, or just run your hand along the inside somewhere. Might even want to take the wheel off and look for loose/low pieces of plastic under there that could rub the tire. Hope it helps Andy

 

Make sure all the bolts are tight. Are the spring clips installed in each caliper?

 

The sound doesn't sound like metal on metal. It's more like plastic (or thin metal) on something. I checked all the fender linings this morning, none are loose. I looked behind the wheel also. And I'm running on stock wheels w/o a drop so there shouldn't be any clearance issues at all.

The thing is, it doesn't hurt my braking power at all, just an annoying sound

I'll double check with the wheels off soon....
thanks

 

That's actually the first thing I checked.

Then it was the heat shield, then it was the spring clips. They're all installed.

I've done everything short of putting the car in gear on jack stands and applying the brakes. But I'm not sure I can re-create that sound without road contact.

(oh btw, the rotors are cross drilled/slotted, pads are OEM, if that would help with ideas at all)

 

So sorry guys, I realized something today....

My memory failed me, I remembered that I noticed the rattle after installing my front sway bar, not the rotors/pads. (I did both in 2 weekends, and must have forgot)

Now I'm thinking the heat shield on the exhaust may be loose??(Common?)
Because it was a royal PITA to get that FSB in on jack stands.

I think what threw me off was the fact that the rattle increases when I brake.

Now, any ideas? lol

 

OMFG U MADE ME THINK FOR NO REASON!!!!!

You owe me $12.87.

BAN.

I dunno why your heat shield would get any louder when you used your brakes. Hmmmm