Brakes issue

Rancidx · Jul 18, 2009, 07:41 AM

So I started getting an repetitive rubbing noise from my back end a while ago.

About a year ago, my back brakes started vibrating (no vibration in steering).
I had the drums and shoes changed but that didn't help.

Eventually my brakes started vibrating under medium braking (steering wheel vibrating). Under light breaking (slowing down) they're fine, under harder braking, they barely vibrate.
Recently I started losing brake fluid. I have to top it up about every 2-3 weeks.
There are no no drips on the ground so I'm thinking this must be a slow leak, happening only when I break.

The tires seem fine, no uneven wear, no vibration issues at any speeds.
The rotors, pads, calipers, drums and shoes have all been changed and do not seem to have had any influence over this issue.

So here are my questions:

1 - where could I be losing brake fluid?
2 - what could be causing the vibrations under medium braking (other than the obvious)

Thanks,

senate6268 · Jul 18, 2009, 08:00 AM

In regards to losing fluid, the clutch master cylinder and brake master cylinder share the same reservoir. You might have a leak in the clutch line that is draining the fluid.

With the vibration, my first instinct was to say that your front rotors may be warped, but you said they were changed.

Boostedlancer$ · Jul 18, 2009, 11:24 AM

you could have that happen but you could also have a bad brake master leaking into the booster. not very common but it happends. i would check everything that comes of that master cylinder

Rancidx · Jul 19, 2009, 08:09 PM

thanks guys,
I'll bring it to the shop and have it checked.... i'm expecting more than one problem

Rancidx · Aug 3, 2009, 05:20 PM

ok, so looks like I have 2 problems

1 - back brakes are vibrating ever so slightly....no idea why

2 - front right pads are used unevenly, the inside one (piston side) is less used than the outside one.... the edges of metal backing of the inside pad are bent away from the pad and the pison has left a big impression in it. This is most likely what is causing the front end vibrations

The mechanic just told me to replace the pads and rotors.

I took them apart today only to realize that autopartsway sent me the wrong discs....@!#^%#@$

But at the same time I realized that the slider pins were having a hard time moving... which would probably explain the uneven wear... I cleaned them out and greased them a bit which made a huge difference...

So now it's just a question of sending the discs back and getting proper ones...

Anyways, thanks for your help guys!