Brake Problems!

[cj7nut]

First off....I'm a do it your selfer', and I don't trust anyone else to work on my baby! :g I own a 1980 CJ-7 with front disc brakes, and I've been hearing a loud "clicking" noise from my L & R front wheels. When I press on my brake petal, I hear a "clamping" noise & the "clicking" noise stops while I am holding down the petal. :cry: When I let go of the brakes and start to move again, the "clicking" noise starts again! Also, I have taken the wheels off and tried to spin the rotor/hub, and it will barely move at all! When I take the caliper & shoes off, the rotor/hub spin perfectly.I have also checked every bolt on my supension, and they are all set to recomended torque.

Has anyone here had this sort of problem, or can you give me some advice as to what is going on here? I was thinking of replacing the calipers, but I'm not sure if that would fix the problem. PLEASE HELP!

[mdwatkins]

Have you checked that your calipers are adjusted properly? It sounds to me that you might have too little space between the pad and the rotor causing the hub to rub against it (which might explain why you can't spin the rotor while the caliper is installed). Also when was the last time you changed your pads? Could your pads be worn bare and be causing the noises?

Just some ideas. Let us know how it comes out.

Matt

[jeeprrz]

Seems like you checked the brakes out well enough,and all seems fine. Maybe the clicking is caused by a bad wheel bearing,and by applying the brakes stiffens things up and makes the clicking go away?Both L&R at the same time going bad is a little strange; unless maybe you have been in alot of water and washed the grease out of the bearings? Hubs? Just a thought.

[scrambler013]

Here is one more suggestion, is it possible that the calipers might be wearing out. I have seen calipers wear out and hold constant pressure on the rotor. If the caliper is holding constant pressure try bleeding the brakes. If that doesn't solve it try the proportioning valve. If it has one. The other possibility is that the pads are shifting in the calipers. I have seen that happen a few times with aftermarket pads. Try putting some caliper lube on the "ears" of the pads and also on the part that is aginst the caliper. That may solve the clicking, as for the inability to move with the wheels off I am not sure.

[cj7nut]

I am going to replace the calipers w/pistons. Then replace the
wheelbearings while I am that close to them. Hopefully, that should stop my problem. Thanks for the info guys! :D :D

[OneBadSrfr]

If I were you, I'd take advantage of one of the many places that offer a free break examination, then claim whatever is wrong is too much for right now an got home to fix it for yourself.
Just a cheap way to solve the problem.

[cj7nut]

Well...I always enjoy putting on new parts anyway! I might as well replace them while I have an reason too! :D

[jbiii]

Hi, this is my first post and thought it wold be asking for help. But I just went through fornt brakes and found that replacing the caliper mounting Kit comes with bushings & breakpad anti rattleclips. I had two noises, one when hitting small bumps it would sound as though caliper was loose. Replaced bushings noise gone, shoot the original bussing were too. But I could not figure out how the clips went on. Then I had the same noise you discribed. So off came the tires again, and this time I enlisted the help of my new parts engineers, one is 6 the other 9 years old. Did not take them long to figure out how the clips went on. Noise gone!!

If your still having the problem I can send you to Napa part # I used for an 84 CJ7 fornt disk.

[Junkman82]

All the other replies sound good but have you checked the cv joint in the axle?

[thejeepingoat]

eh, i didnt know CJs came with CV joints?!?!?

actually im pretty sure they didnt

[sbburch]

Do you have the full time 4x4 quadratrac tranfer case? If so, one of the universal joints, or both, could be bad at the steering knuckle(s).

[Weedeater]

I had the same prob on my 80 cj7. What the prob is. Is the little flat spring the os between the caliper and the retainer. What you need to do is get a snall parts kit for disk brakes and replace the flat spring. It is the on the fits on between hte caliber retainer and the mounting plate. Sorry if I'm rambling I just got out of bed. Night shift sux. :kookie:

[JEEPSTER1]

Remove calipers and see if you can push in the piston. Sounds like you have bad calipers. Also check and lube the caliper slide pins and plates ect. If pads kinda shabby replace them. dont forget to see if flex hoses gone bad. They act like frozen calipers when they give up the ghost.

[sbburch]

Ouch. Your calipers could be binding and not "floating" back after hydrolic brake pressure has been applied and released at the caliper. The clicking could be a result of this also due to the pads barely grabing the rotor and the spacers moving around under partial braking. Lubricate the spacers and brake pad shims, if you have them, with the brake pad lub stuff that you can get at the auto store.

Caliper fix: Clean the slider rails on the calipers and lubricate, sparingly, with either Permatex anti-sieze or the special brake caliber stuff. Also, it is possible that the caliper cyliders could be sticking, resulting in the residual brake pressure left after applying and releasing the brakes. If this is the case, carefully move the calipers in and out several times at full stroke and replace the brake fluid. Replace the brake fluid by bleeding the brakes until the fuild runs clear as it does from the bottle new. This will take at least a quart of brake fuild.