A bit of background. This issue is on my Cobra clone. The passenger front brake was rubbing on one spot of the brake rotor as the wheel went around, making a nice rubbing noise. I popped off the wheel to look for anything odd, but I couldn't see anything. I HAD to leave to get the vehicle inspection done, so I went. Since I couldn't see anything obviously wrong, I figured maybe I had a warped rotor. The rotors and pads were brand new, but it's possible. The car acted like it had a warped rotor; the steering wheel shook when I applied the brakes. However, the shaking got lighter & lighter every time I used the brakes, until it stopped. The steering wheel doesn't shake anymore when using the brakes.
I was also getting a nice grinding noise from the same corner when I would back up, like the brake pads were catching on the rotor or something. Only when backing up. Hissin suggested the brake slide pin was sticking, so I popped off the wheel today to grease it all up. I found something weird, not exactly sure if it's a serious problem or not. Using brake anti-squeal grease, I greased up the ends of the pads (that lock into the caliper bracket) and the slide pin that locks the Cobra caliper into place. I drove the clone back & forth in my driveway a bit and I didn't hear any rubbing or grinding at all. Perhaps the caliper really was sticking.
I took some photos of the caliper bracket that have me a bit worried. I'm not sure if this is a bad bracket or if it's within factory tolerances. Take a look below.
This photo is a composite, showing the clearance between the bottom part of the bracket and both sides of the rotor. In person, the distance looks to be about the same.
This next one is what worries me. There is barely any clearance between the rotor and the bracket on the inside. The outside has more room than it needs. The bracket is fully bolted in. The rotor is not touching the bracket now, but the outer edge might have been at one time. The faint bright line between the rotor and the bracket is actually the ground showing through - that's how close it is.
This doesn't seem right. I at first thought the caliper bracket was bent. but the spacing between the rotor and bracket is even from top to bottom. After greasing up the caliper, the brakes aren't making any noise anymore.
Is this something to worry about? I think so, but I would like some opinions. Is is possible I have a defective bracket? I haven't compared the left and right caliper brackets to see if one is cut differently or not.
Ideas?
I was also getting a nice grinding noise from the same corner when I would back up, like the brake pads were catching on the rotor or something. Only when backing up. Hissin suggested the brake slide pin was sticking, so I popped off the wheel today to grease it all up. I found something weird, not exactly sure if it's a serious problem or not. Using brake anti-squeal grease, I greased up the ends of the pads (that lock into the caliper bracket) and the slide pin that locks the Cobra caliper into place. I drove the clone back & forth in my driveway a bit and I didn't hear any rubbing or grinding at all. Perhaps the caliper really was sticking.
I took some photos of the caliper bracket that have me a bit worried. I'm not sure if this is a bad bracket or if it's within factory tolerances. Take a look below.
This photo is a composite, showing the clearance between the bottom part of the bracket and both sides of the rotor. In person, the distance looks to be about the same.
This next one is what worries me. There is barely any clearance between the rotor and the bracket on the inside. The outside has more room than it needs. The bracket is fully bolted in. The rotor is not touching the bracket now, but the outer edge might have been at one time. The faint bright line between the rotor and the bracket is actually the ground showing through - that's how close it is.
This doesn't seem right. I at first thought the caliper bracket was bent. but the spacing between the rotor and bracket is even from top to bottom. After greasing up the caliper, the brakes aren't making any noise anymore.
Is this something to worry about? I think so, but I would like some opinions. Is is possible I have a defective bracket? I haven't compared the left and right caliper brackets to see if one is cut differently or not.
Ideas?
