Guy Hollywood

Alright, so I've had my 04' for a few months now, which I love. And recently I noticed a weird noise when I apply my breaks. Its almost like a creak everytime the wheels go around. It happens only when I apply the foot brake as well as the hand brake, its fine if I am just driving. Anyone have any ideas of what this is??

Spin9k

Just have to tell you, your cred will be much higher if you use 'brakes'... not 'breaks'. second, why are you applying both foot and hand brakes at the same time?

Lastly, there was a TSB for 'creaky' brakes....usually shows up during low speed turns and involved cleaning rust off the hubs where the wheel contacts and torquing the lugnuts to 108 ft-lbs.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

www.finishlineperformance.com
- RX-8 bulletins
- Look for TSB regarding squeaky brakes.

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

wait, foot brake and hand brake? while your driving?

Guy Hollywood

I'm not applying both at the same time, no. But to check to see if it was only happening when I applied the foot brake, I brought the vehicle up to like 10 mph and used the hand brake to slow the vehicle down, and it was making the same noise. And its not like a constant squeal that you would hear if your pads were worn down. Like I said, its like a creak noise everytime the wheels go around. So if youre going faster and braking, the noise happens more frequently because the wheels are spinning faster.

NsprAshuNz 671

you know.. i have this exact problem. mine happens everytime i slow down to a stop.. i usualy start hearing it from 5 to o mph... i doubt it has anythin to do with the brakes... i also did what you did and tried the handbrakes.. same thing... until now i have no clue what to do.. and yea the noise i hear sounds like bones cracking/popping..almost like a car with a broken CV-joint.. weLL i just wanted to know if any of you got this you fixed.. does anyone else now the sloution?.. whats TBS?

Spin9k

Have you done the tsb as I and Jedi54 pointed you to?

Exactly here http://www.finishlineperformance.com...2-04-1301b.pdf

Do it see if it resolves it. Clean & retorque. Don't just guess with the trunk supplied kit wrench, get a proper torque wrench.

Guy Hollywood

Maybe I can try and get this done today. Thanks spin.

Guy Hollywood

No luck with the TSB. Still making that God awful noise.

SaugaBoy

I just started experiencing this same problem. Did the TSB work for anyone? Got it cleaned up and torqued to spec, and i'm still experiencing that sound when slowing down.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

The torqueing to the higher 108 Ft lb spec will only do so much. If that and/or the copper grease lubing cited in the TSB doesn't resolve the squeal for you then it's time for some low noise brake pads (e.g. Hawk Ceramic) and/or new rotors.

Proper "bedding in " (aka 'burnishing') of pads makes a significant difference as well:

Burnishing Instructions
1. After installing new brake pads, make 6 to 10 stops from approximately 30-35 mph applying moderate pressure.
2. Make an additional 2 to 3 hard stops from approximately 40 to 45 mph.
3. DO NOT DRAG BRAKES!
4. Allow 15 minutes for brake system to cool down.
5. After step 4 your new pads are ready for use.
Brake Pad Installation Procedure
1. Install brake pads properly. Be sure pads are securely positioned in the caliper.
2. Flush system with fresh brake fluid.
3. Check all hydraulic parts for excess wear and tear.
4. Check disc for proper thickness, parallelism, and lateral runout.
5. Check disc for scoring or grooves over .012”depth. If either applies, resurfacing is required.
6. If discs do not need resurfacing, then contamination from the previous brake pads must be removed. Sand discs with 130 grit sandpaper using moderate pressure. Use soap and water to clean discs’ surface after sanding and machining. Discs should be free and clear of oil, grease, and brake fluid.
7. Inspect calipers for freedom of movement. Lubricate where necessary.

SaugaBoy

The noise I am getting is not from the brake pads, but sounds like a knocking/snapping sound.
Cleaned the anti corrosion portion of the disk hub and the wheel part that it mounts to with sand paper, and cleaned it off, and torqued to 108 ft-lb, and still experiencing the same amount of that knocking noise.

Spin9k

Then that's not the issue you are experiencing. More likely the knocking/snapping is actually because of the pads. For me, it's a noise most noticeable at slower speeds on a bumpy road and the windows are open. Sounds like something mechanical is loose and rattling, esp. over bumps. At first I was concerned, but nothing has made it stop. I've always wondered exactly where it was produced, and noticed even if you install new brake pad spring clips (when you put in new pads), it is still there.

But think about it...the clips allow the pads to move around...and really need to so they back away from the rotors when you release the brake pedal. The spring clips also let them move back and forth too, so as a result the pads can rattle around quite a bit. That particular noise, while perhaps a bit disconcerting, is really harmless. I've never heard it in any other car, so it seems RX-8 specific.

SaugaBoy

Hmmm, weird, my windows are closed/up, and radio is set to volume 5-10, and I can still hear that thumping/banging noise, and its on flat surfaces too, not bumps.
Are your brake pads aftermarket? If there is play, then maybe these pads are a bit smaller? Allowing for some play, or they just weren't properly set inside on install?

Spin9k

..if you can hear something with that level of ambient noise, windows up - it's not brakes. Do you have aftermarket sways, links, coilovers, etc, anything suspension-wise that can cause noise if perhaps installed incorrectly?

SaugaBoy

All stock

Spin9k

Then maybe you've blown a shock, an endlink is busted, something is certainly wrong as it's not normal. If you bought the car used, check for parts added you aren't aware of. But anything that obvious should be looked at.

SicPearlRX8

I have been experiencing this exact same issue. The sound is coming from the drivers-side rear, and can only be heard while braking to a stop (15-0mph). It is noticeable with the windows up and stereo on, but is very loud outside the vehicle. The sound is almost like the "creaking" sound you would get from (while standing beside a car with bad springs and pushing down on the body to compress the springs)--but it is NOT an constant "creak". It only "creaks" when you apply the brakes, rolling to a stop and each time the wheel makes a full rotation.

Is that descriptive enough?

I am planning on taking the wheel off tomorrow and checking all my links, top hat, and mounting points. I'll let you know what I find, but if anyone knows what it may be--please pass along the info. Thanks.

SaugaBoy

Exact same thing with me, great description. I haven't really been around and I have not been able to go to the dealership yet to get it checked out. I have taken off my wheels, checked all the contact points, suspension components, and so on, don't see anything.

Have you had yours looked at yet?

boarderjosh10

iTrader: (2)

I think I might have the same problem as you Saugaboy. I am actually replacing out my front swaybar and getting new endlinks in the next week (already ordered the parts). If that fixes the sound I'll let you know. Also if you figure out the problem let me know!

13BEE

I have the same issue with the noise mentioned by guy hollywood. Put on new rotors and pads.....didn't fix it. The dealer thinks it's a problem with the diff, but wasn't sure. (3000.00).

justjim

I'm not sure what's going on here but I will relay something that might shed some light on it. I had a track day at Sebring 3 weeks ago and as usual I put my track pads on a day or 2 before. I was in a hurry and did not bother to put brake grease on the backs of the pads. As expected the track brakes squealed every now and then but no big deal.

After the HPDE I was very busy at work and alot of other stuff and basically I didn't switch out the track pads until this past Sunday. My girlfriend and I both had noticed that in addition to the occasional squeal almost every time we braked moderately or hard the brakes would "POP" or "Click" loudly almost as if something broke. I kept checking but everything looked OK. When I finally took out the track pads everything looked fine. I put a new set of OEM pads back on with shims and a good greasing on the backs and the brakes are quiet, no squeal, no "POPS", and no "Clicks".

My theory is that the unlubricated, un-shimmed, pads stick to the caliper piston face, and then under moderate to heavy braking shift on the piston face and "POP" or "Click". Lubing the backs or better yet put the shims on with lube gives a sliding face for the piston to sit on and keeps things quiet. I've never noticed these noises when I lube the track pads.

13BEE

Finally figures it out. It was the brake shims. Glued them to the back of the pads, and it fixed it.. Dealer 2x, and the cross section of firestone, les swab etc..... Non of them could figure it out.
I knew the mechanic at the dealer was full of **** when he said that the new Rx8 had more displacment than the previous years. (even though it has the same hp, and 1.3 liters)

Anyway, I hope this helps.

detectiveorange

I have the exact same problem as SicPearlRX8 it sounds like. did you ever fix it?