Chattering calipers
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 529
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From: France
Chattering calipers
Hi & Happy new year to all!
I have a slight problem at low speeds on my 1985 F250 6.9,it seems that the calipers want to turn with the wheels,this makes them kind of clunk,clunk,clunk,if it hit the brakes the sound stops.What can I tighten or change to get rid of this annoying noise??
Thanks for your answers,
Mike
I have a slight problem at low speeds on my 1985 F250 6.9,it seems that the calipers want to turn with the wheels,this makes them kind of clunk,clunk,clunk,if it hit the brakes the sound stops.What can I tighten or change to get rid of this annoying noise??
Thanks for your answers,
Mike
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: KY
Hi Mike, Not sure what you have for brakes on your '85 I've got an '88 and had the
same noise. Turned out to be the pins that hold the calipers in the housing. You can
try to replace the pins, Autozone has them for around $6.00 a pair. What happens is these pins should be replaced every few years or brake job, (whichever comes first).
If allowed to remain loose the grooves they fit in gets a little slop in them. Mine were
bad enough I had to replace the calipers to get rid of it totally. You need to make sure
that these pins don't vibrate out. or you could have a caliper come off. These pins can
come out while you are driving, which I can attest to firsthand. Hope this helps.
same noise. Turned out to be the pins that hold the calipers in the housing. You can
try to replace the pins, Autozone has them for around $6.00 a pair. What happens is these pins should be replaced every few years or brake job, (whichever comes first).
If allowed to remain loose the grooves they fit in gets a little slop in them. Mine were
bad enough I had to replace the calipers to get rid of it totally. You need to make sure
that these pins don't vibrate out. or you could have a caliper come off. These pins can
come out while you are driving, which I can attest to firsthand. Hope this helps.
Pins
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
On an older high mileage truck the spindle tree actually wears where the caliper rides against it. Pins will not fix the problem, but they may lessen it.
Take a MIG welder and put a couple of small weld metal spots on the sides on the spindle tree where the caliper rides. Then take a flat file and dress them down so the caliper does not bind on them. Test fit the caliper and repeat as required till all the extra vertical movement has been eliminated. The caliper should slide from side to side freely but not move up and down inside the tree.
I also have lost those pins while driving. I put a small spot of weld metal at the bottom of the V to make them fit tighter.
This repair will last for 5 or 6 years, no clunking and the pins do not fall out anymore.
Take a MIG welder and put a couple of small weld metal spots on the sides on the spindle tree where the caliper rides. Then take a flat file and dress them down so the caliper does not bind on them. Test fit the caliper and repeat as required till all the extra vertical movement has been eliminated. The caliper should slide from side to side freely but not move up and down inside the tree.
I also have lost those pins while driving. I put a small spot of weld metal at the bottom of the V to make them fit tighter.
This repair will last for 5 or 6 years, no clunking and the pins do not fall out anymore.
Last edited by Dave Sponaugle; Jan 5, 2005 at 11:49 AM.
Weld spots
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
Just take your time as you do it. If you look at the parts you can see where they have been riding against each other and wearing. All you are doing is replacing the metal that has worn off over the years.
When you take the tires off you can grab the caliper and move it up and down inside the tree. This will give you an idea as to how much metal you have to build up to get rid of the slop that is causing the noise. I did mine so I had to dress it down a good bit with the file, but when I was done there was a nice smooth wide surface for the caliper to ride on. It has worked for 5 years with no problems at all.
Also remember that the caliper must slide in and out freely so the brake pads wear correctly.
When you take the tires off you can grab the caliper and move it up and down inside the tree. This will give you an idea as to how much metal you have to build up to get rid of the slop that is causing the noise. I did mine so I had to dress it down a good bit with the file, but when I was done there was a nice smooth wide surface for the caliper to ride on. It has worked for 5 years with no problems at all.
Also remember that the caliper must slide in and out freely so the brake pads wear correctly.
