Problem with rear brake.

[WolvesSoulZ]

Hello,

Yesterday I installed 4 new brakes on my car(2000 GT), not the first time I do it on it. But this time, I got defeated by one of my rear brake.

So yesterday I drove around 15km coming back to home after changing the brake, no problem, just a spongy pedal, no problem here, bled the brake.
Now I went back and drove today, was about to go fetch some food, but on my way, about 1km away from home, I hear loud thunk or bang or knock, anything, very loud, and the cars wobble, it came from the rear driver brake. Parked, stopped the car, waited a bit, started back, went back home, was good. Let the car cool a bit at home, went back for a test, it was fine, for about 1km again, then it began knocking or thumping very loudly. Parked, waited, went back, this time it was okay, but about 200m away from home, it began thumping and kept doing so till I was back in my driveway.

Jacked the car, put it on blocks, checked the two rear, my rear passenger disc rotated easily, but my rear driver disc, the one who thumps, was kinda hard and stuff. Jammed at some point. Removed the caliper on that side, re-cleaned the bolts, re-greased them, slid the whole thing back together, tried, still jammed at some point. Now I'm kinda stuck. No backup car, nothing.

Could it be the rotor (Albeit is brand new) that is a defective one? Is it my caliper? Anything I could check to make sure before buying?
The caliper still compress like it should, it is not seized.

I need help, I must fix this tomorrow otherwise I can't go to work (I work about 1h30 away from home.)

[Sven the Sexman]

E-brake?

[WolvesSoulZ]

I don't have e-brake anymore. Never really had the drum shoes in there.

[Sven the Sexman]

I know you mentioned the bolts but did you take care of the slides?

[WolvesSoulZ]

Those little metal braket between the caliper and the pads? I only greased them I think on the rear... The pads seemed to fit well...

Urggg, I really need to fix that tomorrow..

[Sven the Sexman]

The slides are the pins that the rear caliper bolts go into. It's very common for them to get seized.

[WolvesSoulZ]

The thing that holds the caliper into the rack? The thing that you bolt the two caliper pins into? How do you clean their insides?

I also have to say that the loud thunk noise that brake made was very scary. heh

[Sven the Sexman]

I put PB blaster in there and spin the pins. It works out pretty well. The anti-rattle clips are what the pads sit on. Those should be cleaned and lubed. Also, are you torquing the wheel on? I know it may seem like a dumb question, but it's happened before.

[WolvesSoulZ]

I torque the wheel down tight first before lowering my jack just a bit so the wheel doesn't spin, and then tightening back the bolts and then just lowering the jack fully.

Might brake cleaner work to clean the inside of the pin slot?

[Sven the Sexman]

That'll get some of the crud out. Caliper might be seizing up, too. Damn, I wish I could visually see these things. It so hard to diagnose a problem through a computer screen.

[WolvesSoulZ]

Want some pictures? I'ma go outside and take some, my car's on block anyway so won't be long.

[Sven the Sexman]

I meant there in person, but take pics of everything you can. Maybe something will show up in the pics that we're missing.

[WolvesSoulZ]

Here took a few pictures, 13 I think(Cellphone quality tho)... And till we haven't invented fast travel devices, the pictures will have to be the only means of seeing.

[Sven the Sexman]

I don't see anything out of place in the pics. Try opening the brake bleeder on the caliper and see if it rotates easier.

[WolvesSoulZ]

It rotates okay, untill it hits one mark on the disc where it jams, nearly completely.
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[Sven the Sexman]

Warped rotor or junk on the hub?

[WolvesSoulZ]

That would cause super loud thunk and bang?

[Sven the Sexman]

Sure would. It's going to be ampified by the trunk too.

[WolvesSoulZ]

Alright, checked the stuff. Re-installed the wheel.

1- Cleaned the two pin slot and pins once again, re-greased. Checked the pads, checked the rotor, looks fine.
2- Went for a little ride. Everything was okay for a bit, then I pressed in harder and when I slowed down... BANG BANG BANG...
3- Rolled slowly, it rubbed a few time, stopped, turned, went again, wasn't rubbing anymore, went for a little longuer, did the same thing, and then now, we heard what sounded like rubber noise.

Now could it be the remain of the drum-in-hat e-brake inside the rotor that could be causing that? It's very scary when it happens and I need my car for tomorrow evening.

We checked if the wheel was stable and if it could be the wheel bearing, hell no, it's as it should be, no wobble, the wheel is firm.

[Sven the Sexman]

It's odd that it's happening after you press hard on the brakes...what about a loose caliper bracket or not completely torqued bracket? I don't see how the e-brake could effect it that way but who knows?