Noisy brakes?

blacksapphire · 01-06-2006, 04:22 PM

Hi all. Newbie here. Our black LX sedan is just over a week old and only done 450km. Has anyone else here get a noisy howling or growling when the brakes are applied? I figured that it may just be because I'm still in the run-in period (?).

Zetec20 · 01-06-2006, 06:47 PM

hm... that doesn't sound right, is it only under heavy braking or all braking?

blacksapphire · 01-06-2006, 06:51 PM

Well, it happens when I'm about to come to a complete stop. That last second before the car comes to a halt I can hear this noise. Sometimes its a growl, other times its a howl. If I'm in traffic and I release the brake pedal a little I sometimes get the same thing. I haven't been braking heavily as per the instructions in the book while running-in.

Zetec20 · 01-06-2006, 08:54 PM

hm... not too sure about not being able to heavily brake while running in, running in is mainly for the engine i thought...

blacksapphire · 02-06-2006, 12:20 AM

There was a note in the manual about not braking too heavily for the first 500km and driving at varying speeds for 1500km...

Anyway, I was out tonight and noticed it again especially when I approach traffic lights since I kinda ease the brakes into the stop.

I know my brother's LS and his LR before that used to have a growl in the same conditions...weird...

mitch_lx · 02-06-2006, 12:21 AM

You do need to bed the brakes in,

If you have been babying it around id suggest maybe start giving those brakes a bit of Red Hot Right Foot Curry.

Get them bed in well and truely. should stop that sound. maybe travel along at 60 and hit them, obviously not enough to set abs off. but enough to really bury your foot into those anchors.

blacksapphire · 02-06-2006, 12:22 AM

Hmmm...I will try that now that I've passed 500! Thanks mitch_lx. I'll keep you posted.

Zetec20 · 02-06-2006, 10:06 AM

Red Hot Right Foot Curry...

I don't think there's a better way you could have put that

silverfocusstar · 02-06-2006, 02:26 PM

well my focus has just done over 6000kms and the brakes aren't howling however they are grinding...even when i get into my car and its parked on an incline the brakes grind against the discs...is this common? i used to have the LR focus and it didnt happen at all...is this because that its has disc brakes all around? the LR only had front whell disc brakes.

Zetec20 · 02-06-2006, 02:33 PM

i think you'll find that noise when you get into it on a hill is that the handbrake hasn't been pulled the entire way up...

on an unrelated topic what kind of wheels have u slapped on that baby?

silverfocusstar · 02-06-2006, 02:36 PM

well i have also noticed that sometimes it does it on level ground. when the car has been running for more than 5 mins it disappears. could it be the brakes warming up? i know its been quite cold over the last few nights in my area.

Zetec20 · 02-06-2006, 02:37 PM

hm... could be to do with heat and cold as well, not quite sure, where abouts u from?

silverfocusstar · 02-06-2006, 02:44 PM

i live in sydenham which is out the north western region of melbourne...so it does get quite cool in the mornings...

Zetec20 · 02-06-2006, 02:56 PM

oh ok fair enough, what kinds of wheels have you got on ur car there?

silverfocusstar · 02-06-2006, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zetec20

oh ok fair enough, what kinds of wheels have you got on ur car there?

actually thats a pic of a european online magazine...its a stock standard alloy offered by ford of europe. they get a choice of 15 alloy variants!

my car is a silver CL with smooth pack...standard 15 inch 9 spoke wheels.

blacksapphire · 02-06-2006, 03:06 PM

Lol...well I guess its ok to dream...

silverfocusstar · 02-06-2006, 03:07 PM

it is! but those 18 inch pewter grey rims would look very classy on my car.

FOCUSonTHIS · 02-06-2006, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverfocusstar

i live in sydenham which is out the north western region of melbourne...so it does get quite cool in the mornings...

Might see me ripping up the road on them parts

silverfocusstar · 02-06-2006, 04:41 PM

i think i might have already! do you own an xr5 or an st170?

More revs · 02-06-2006, 04:59 PM

A few months ago my wife bought a new Renault Scenic which was our first Euro car for a loooong time. The brakes did precisely what the posts above describe as far as noise goes.

This is normal Renault told me along with other owners too. Apparently Euro cars all seem to go for a non harmful disk pad material which has the unpleasant side effects as grindy noisy, black stains on wheels and worst of all they chew up disk rotors.

In time I'm sure someone will have a Focus pad with non of these problems....

silverfocusstar · 02-06-2006, 05:27 PM

oh well the price you pay for having a euro touch...

blacksapphire · 02-06-2006, 11:59 PM

Have just been a bit more aggressive with the braking. Not quite the the "Red Hot Right Foot Curry", but enough to scare the front seat passenger

Grinding's sometimes there, but the howl seems to have disappeared...for now...