Hey all,

My right front wheel makes a metal on metal sound (sometimes, usually in the morning) while driving. When I press the brake pedal, the sound goes away. What is causing this? I searched but I didn't find anything on this subject on the forum.

Ed

 

Sounds like it could be the wear indicators on the pads. While you're inspecting the pads, make sure that the little v-shaped springs on the back of the pads are in place.

Don't wait too long, bad pads can ruin a rotor in just a few miles.

 

This shrill sound could be coming from the brake pad wear indicators. Here is a quote from the Owner's Manual.

<font color='blue'>Brake pad wear indicators
The disc brake pads on your vehicle have audible wear indicators. When a brake pad requires replacement, it will make a high pitched scraping or screeching sound when the vehicle is in motion whether or not the brake pedal is depressed. Have the brakes checked as soon as possible if the wear indicator sound is heard. </font>

Front pads typically wear out sooner than rear pads, so check the fronts first. If the rotors are not conspicuously worn and you have not felt any pulsation in the brake pedal, you may need nothing more than new pads. Replacing worn brake pads is something which may be done by the home mechanic. You will find good coverage of this subject in the Haynes manual, pages 9-5 through 9-9. Doing the front pads is easier than the rears because the rear calipers have the complication of the hand brake mechanism.

Brake pads can wear out in 25K miles or 100K miles. It depends on your car (brakes wear faster with automatic transmission), your driving style, your driving environment. In a stop-and-go urban area brakes wear quickly. In 100% highway driving the brake pads never wear out because they are lightly used.

 

...the thin metal guard that goes around the back of the rotor. Mine got bent up against the rotor somehow awhile back. Made a horrible scrapping sound.

 

I am having the car brought in for service this weekend anyway so no big deal. I will have them check the brakes. Anyone have an idea how much a brake job will cost at the Nissan dealer?

BTW, someone mentioned to check that metal piece that goes around the rotor. I checked and it wasn't that. Although on my old Integra, that same piece somehow got bent and rubbed against the rotor. What a nasty sound!! Its like a dust shield or something.

Ed