Brake noise

[Megy_ED30]

Hi all,

Further to previous posts (but I cant seem to find them now hence the new thread), I have a noise from my brakes.  I would describe it as a mechanical clunk when I depress the brake pedal while the car is in motion over a few MPH (it doesnt seem to do it a very low speeds).  The car is a DSG and it makes the noise on an intermittent basis, but once it starts it does it pretty much all the time.  The noise is the same at various speeds and also at various ammounts of pedal pressing, it will make it even if you press the pedal so light there is no braking action or slowing down, also, it does it if I keep my foot on the accelerator and apply the brakes.

Does anyone have any clues as to what the noise or come across something similar before?  Oh, and before anyone mentions it, I know it isnt the parcel shelf chord weight balls banging.

[Phathead]

Does it happen when the gearbox is changing gears?

[Megy_ED30]

Does it happen when the gearbox is changing gears?

No, it only does it when the brake pedal is pressed, either lightly or heavily, the same noise for either.  It does it whether the car is in D, S, M or N at about 5 MPH or over.

[Richn83]

If you put your hand on the base of the DSG gear stick do you feel a clunk at the same time as you hear the noise?  as it could be the locking mechnaism for the gear selector you get the same clunk as you depress the brake when stationary as it releases the lock on the selector lever, it could be activating or moving even though you are in motion?

[Megy_ED30]

Not sure I have felt anything on the gear selector, but I will try this as it would make sense.

Having a little hassle with this now, taken it to my local VW dealers who say they dont have a clue either, but would be happy to take it in and investigate, for the usual costings and doubtful it will be warrenty covered, phoned the garage I bought the car from who said they wont be looking to pay financially, even though its been making the noise since I got the car 10 weeks ago.  With it being the brakes I am not sure if its safe to be driving or not, with the reading I have done there is apparently no mechanical linkage to the brakes that could be making the noise, so slightly reassured its not going to be something that will cause the brakes to fail.

Am at a loss now as to how to proceed.

[Beddie]

Could be the pads knocking in the caliper? Some replacement pads have been known to shift in the caliper due to slight differences in size in the locating lugs on the pad

[edd666999]

When I had a knocking noise the caliper bolts had become a little lose allowing some movement of the caliper, still safe but annoying! Tightened the bolts up and all was fine

[QD MBE]

When I had a knocking noise the caliper bolts had become a little lose allowing some movement of the caliper, still safe but annoying! Tightened the bolts up and all was fine

Enlighten us on how the caliper bolts can be loose and still safe?  If they loosen further and fall out, then what is securing the caliper?

To the OP, have a look at the roll bar mounts, also the lower subframe has been known to cause clunks, and as already said check the pads in the calipers.

[edd666999]

I had fitted R32 brakes the movement was about 1-2mm and the bolts were securing the calipers and survived my emergency braking from 70 once fitted. You couldn't move them by hand it wàs when you released the brake peddle as the car moved forward the friction between the pad and disc caused the caliper to knock.

[Betty02]

I had/have this, take your pads out, grease them and preplace, make sure no clips on the pads were broken (mine were) I always greased the rubber bush on the lower arms up as they look a little warn. Did both these and it sorted it, look through my threads I go into depth of the noise sounds exactly like mine ;)