Strange sounds - brake issues?

[geeza]

Hi Guy's,

a week ago i took a drive out Berwick way (Awesome roads) but i have since developed a rubbing noise when above 30-40 k's per hour...

My gold has always had RUBBISH brakes and on the journey i had to hit the brakes really hard to pull up in traffic and once i actually got a burning smell - is it possible i've warped the disks? or maybe worn the pads out?

It does sound like the front wheels have developed a "rub" i.e it's not a constant noise but sounds like something on the wheel rubbing once per revoloution and the noise speeds up as i acelerate

Its a standard clipper 93 Convertible - standard golf brakes - Any help would be much apprciated!!

Gary

[jets]

Sometimes as the car gets older the pistons get crud forming on them & the seals maybe hard. Fairly simple job & seals are generally cheap. The other possibility is a warped disc.

[gsand]

new member chiming in here:

if its a warped disc, most of the time you will feel it through the pedal under braking.

[Jmac]

GSAND welcome mate!!!!!

Just a thought check the wheel bearings!! If they have play that too will cause oscillations.
Cheers

[gldgti]

rubbish brakes on a 93 eh?.... hmm

first, burning smell is overheated brakes. if this has happened, you might have glazed a brake pad, or even worn right through it to the backing metal plate - that would make a nasty scraping noise if its touching the rotor.

its simple to check the pads - take off the wheel and have a look. you should have at least 3-4mm of brake lining material on both the inner and outer brake pads - if not, your dues for new ones pronto. while your there, ensure there is a locating screw holding the disk to the hub, and if so, give the disk a wobble and try to detect and movement laterally - this could be a wheel bearing issue - it is however rather likely that a worn wheel bearing will rumble as you drive along.