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Tin top brakes
Guinness - 1/4/09 at 09:25 AM

Bought SWIMBO a Fiat Grande Punto a few months back. Was a 07 car with 10,000 miles on the clock. I guess it is an ex-courtesy / body shop car.

I drove it for the first time today and there is a funny noise coming from the brakes when they are applied. (Front discs, rear drums.)

Sounds like once per revolution, coming form the rear brakes. I'm guessing that the car has stood outside for a while and there is a patch of rust / corrosion on the inside of the drum. I tried a few hard stops and it seemed to get slightly better.

She only drives a couple of miles to work and back, so I doubt the brakes get warm / used too much!

It's booked into the garage for a once over next week. But in the interim, what do we think it could be?

Cheers

Mike

l0rd - 1/4/09 at 10:08 AM

Have you tried running the car slowly and apply the handbrake? Don't stop but just keep going.

I believe it to be the easiest thing to do to check if they were rusted.

I am sure other people will say otherwise

britishtrident - 1/4/09 at 10:22 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Guinness
Bought SWIMBO a Fiat Grande Punto a few months back. Was a 07 car with 10,000 miles on the clock. I guess it is an ex-courtesy / body shop car.

I drove it for the first time today and there is a funny noise coming from the brakes when they are applied. (Front discs, rear drums.)

Sounds like once per revolution, coming form the rear brakes. I'm guessing that the car has stood outside for a while and there is a patch of rust / corrosion on the inside of the drum. I tried a few hard stops and it seemed to get slightly better.

She only drives a couple of miles to work and back, so I doubt the brakes get warm / used too much!

It's booked into the garage for a once over next week. But in the interim, what do we think it could be?

Cheers

Mike


If it goes away after the first or second time the brakes are pressed medium-hard then it is just the overnight rust film on the rear drums. It can't be cured as it is a characteristic of the model rather than a problem and is quite normal.

Rover 400/45's are very prone to an alarming degree to it as were Talbot Alpines and Hillman Imps.

The reason why you only hear it on some models rather than other is to do with the noise transmission characteristics of the suspension and the hardness of the suspension bushes..



[Edited on 1/4/09 by britishtrident]

alistairolsen - 1/4/09 at 10:36 AM

as said, apply the handbrake gently and roll down an incline and see if its still there, if it is its probably just some rust on the drum. Personally Id take it out and drive it properly (someting most cars never get) and get the brakes hot (not smoking with the fluid vaporised, but uncomfortable to touch) over a 10 or 20 mile journey.

Make sure when you get home you roll to a stop and dont apply the brakes!

iank - 1/4/09 at 11:23 AM

There was a recall on the brakes on 07 Grande Punto's - my wife's car had it done on the first service. Worth checking it's been done on yours I seem to remember there was a noise involved.

While it's in check its had the wiring fault fixed on the heater.

Ours is back in for a warranty repair to replace a rear brake drum which has started juddering, so maybe a common fault?

On the bright side the brakes have always nearly put me through the windscreen when applied hard