Hey all. Just purchased an '04 Escape XLS last week. Went on a trip this weekend and noticed some slight knocking noise coming from underneath during braking. I checked the speed today when it happened and it starts at about 40km/h. As the vehicle slows, the noise slows with it till I am at a complete stop. I can live with the noise as long as I know it's nothing to worry about. I've read of other people on here who also experienced a noise but not sure if it is entirely similar. Here is my attempt at the sound from 40 km/h to stop.

knock.knock.knock.knock.knock.knock..knock...knock ....knock......knock........
knock.............knock...............knock....... ........................knock.............
........knock..................................... ...............knock. Stopped.

Thanks for any and all help

 

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Two schools of thought here:

The first is an out of balance wheel/tire, but I doubt it.

Second comes from experience with Taurus cars -
Several years ago, my soon to be ex took my Taurus to a shop full of morons to have axle shafts replaced in it while I was deployed. In attempting to remove the front brake rotors, they bent the living daylights out of them (probably by using prybars intstead of a puller...) and glossed over what they had done, thinking it was owned by "Just a dumb female", at which they succeeded until I got home.

When the brakes were applied, the tweaked discs slammed the brake calipers back and forth in their tracks cousing both the sound you describe and a slight shimmy in the front end.

Easy to check - pull the wheels, and turn the discs (might have to run a pair of lugnuts down on the studs to hold the discs) while comparing to a ruler butted against the steering knuckle.

If the truck has drum brakes, check inside the drums for damage or scoring. If disc, scoring might also be the cause.

I'd say definitely that it is brake related though.

~Wolf

PS: The Goodyear shop east of Memphis on Stage Road near Bank of America made three repairs on that car, and STRUCK OUT all three times.

 

Assuming you don't have a warranty, I'd lift each wheel and see if you could isolate the problem to one wheel. Hopefully it's something related to the brake hardware. There's a metal pin on the front discs that "could" cause a problem.

 

Thanks for the information guys. If a milder day swings on by or if I can find a warm garage I will have a look. I will have a look tomorrow, however, to see if there is any scoring on the front rotors. The rear wheels have drums...so a little more involved (hence warm day). I haven't noticed a shimmy but I will test drive again tomorrow. I know I can take it to a technician to look at and probably have it fixed in a jiff but I figured if it is something I can do on my own I can save some hard earned money. Wolf, I printed off your post and showed it to my brother-in-law after he took it for a test drive. He isn't a technician but is pretty car savy. He agrees with you...most likely a brake problem. Will keep you posted. Thanks again.

 

Any time pal! The rotors on Taurus cars were easy to bend because they had a cheap stamped steel center section, forged rotors are less likely to be tweaked even when manhandled by a complete clod. Never pry on the outer edge of a rotor!

Good luck, I hope you nail it down.

~Wolf

PS: By the way - if you can find white lithium lube in a spray can, you can try it on the caliper slides (avoid overspray - you dont want it to get on the rotors or brake pads). This will help the calipers to track freely.

 

Was out running errands today. Felt a slight shimmy in time with the noise. Definately seems to be coming from the back. I'm that much closer.

 

It could also be that one or more of the minor parts in a brake drum have dropped into the works. But I'd still bet on the front end.

 

Called the dealer today....it goes in for a look see in the morning. Ahhhhh...the joys of vehicle ownership.

 

Just wanted to say thanks to those who responded with information regarding my knocking noise. I'm happy to say that the problem was fixed this morning and I didn't have to do it. Turns out that the two brand new rear brake drums were warped. The garage I took it to replaced them and the dealer I bought from will pay for the drums.

 

I was gonna say it sounds like my moms t-bird used to be when I would drive it at like 110 and then have to touch the brakes for somthing.....do that a few times and you'll get that same shimmy/knock........if you have kids that drive it ya might wanna have a lil talk w/ em haha