Grit in brakes

[Vonlipvig]

Morning folks,

Let the wife use the z for the weekend to go to a hen do and ended up down a dirt track...

Long and short of it I now have a scraping sound coming from the front left wheel, sounds like a piece of grit has got in.

What would be the best way of getting rid or should it dislodge by itself? Also is it likely to cause me problems if it goes unattended to, would rather not have to fork out for new brakes and pads when i've only have her a few weeks.

 

[john-e89]

That definately needs removing. Pop the wheel off and push the metal guard behind the disc away from you, if it's stuck between that and the disc it should fall out. Failing that use a long thin screwdriver or equivalent to poke it out, either way it needs removing, left it could score the disc and weaken it if it scores it deeply, especially if you're discs are part worn anyway.

Best of luck.

 

[Vonlipvig]

That definately needs removing. Pop the wheel off and push the metal guard behind the disc away from you, if it's stuck between that and the disc it should fall out. Failing that use a long thin screwdriver or equivalent to poke it out, either way it needs removing, left it could score the disc and weaken it if it scores it deeply, especially if you're discs are part worn anyway.

Best of luck.

Thanks John, will see if i can source a jack from somewhere as dont have one myself. Pretty useless with anything mechanical but taking a wheel off and having a poke should do.

It is not a constant scraping, just when the wheel hits a certain point, hoping its not stuck in the caliper

 

[john-e89]

Ah ok well if it's not constant you may have picked up something that is stuck in the suspension leg etc, have you tried simply turning the wheel full lock one way, have a look under the wheel arch, then put the opposite lock on and have another look, you may be lucky and find some debri that you can just pull out without even taking the wheel off.

 

[Vonlipvig]

Ah ok well if it's not constant you may have picked up something that is stuck in the suspension leg etc, have you tried simply turning the wheel full lock one way, have a look under the wheel arch, then put the opposite lock on and have another look, you may be lucky and find some debri that you can just pull out without even taking the wheel off.

Ooo will give that one a go. If not, the garage next to the office will do it free of charge tomorrow, we send loads of work their way so are quite accomodating

 

[Vonlipvig]

So, quick pop to the garage with a couple of coffees and they think it is not grit but sounds plastic/rubbery stuck somewhere. As its only one spot on the wheel when it goes past there makes sense. Had a good look all round the tire and nothing that is visible. Got it booked in for a free check *edit* monday where they will take a look even though they don't normally. Will update with what they come back with, hopefully good news as still not had her a month

 

[Vonlipvig]

So... After the garage had taken the rear wheels apart and advised they couldn't find anything, I gently directed them to the nearside front, where I said initially it was coming from.

That's all been apart today, cleaned etc and there is still the slightest noise on each rotation, which they have picked up. They think it could be a wheel bearing on the way out but can't say for sure as the sound is so slight. Asked to drive it for the next couple of weeks to see if the sound gets worse and if it does, they will replace the bearing. Still under warranty so no charges for it which is at least something.

Although in my mind it is bothering me, but the car itself drives fine with no issues. With saying that, I hope it does get worse over the next week so they will replace it. So it continues

 

[Vonlipvig]

Finally got to the bottom of it.

Tyre pressure was low, about 14psi, and something had got in between the tyre and the wheel rim. When asked why the pressure sensor didnt warn me, most likely cause was previous owner dismissed the warning. The wife did this on her 3 series and didnt flash back up for months so makes sense.

Is still under warrenty so garage said keep an eye on the pressures over the next couple of months and let them know if any further issues.

Bit of a git but happy its all sorted, and who knows, may explain some of the tramlining as well!

 

[john-e89]

A non wallet bashing result, excellent.

Nice to see you and Lindo post the outcome up from your problems, lots don't, I always wonder what the outcome was from these types of posts so thanks for the updates.

 

[Vonlipvig]

A non wallet bashing result, excellent.

Nice to see you and Lindo post the outcome up from your problems, lots don't, I always wonder what the outcome was from these types of posts so thanks for the updates.

Whats the point of a problems section if we don't include solutions eh Now i just need to change the title of the thread to what it actually was!

 

[Nictrix]

Didnt you notice the car wallowing over the road with the low pressure in the tyre?
Or didnt you ever check the pressures with a gauge to check they were set properly?

 

[Vonlipvig]

Didnt you notice the car wallowing over the road with the low pressure in the tyre?
Or didnt you ever check the pressures with a gauge to check they were set properly?

Didn't notice it wallowing at all, just a bit of tram lining, or what I thought was. In my naivety no I didn't check the pressures, had the car less than a month when I noticed the sound and believed that something like tire pressure is something the dealer would have checked before selling! Now I know one of the first things to check

 

[Nictrix]

Didnt you notice the car wallowing over the road with the low pressure in the tyre?
Or didnt you ever check the pressures with a gauge to check they were set properly?

Didn't notice it wallowing at all, just a bit of tram lining, or what I thought was. In my naivety no I didn't check the pressures, had the car less than a month when I noticed the sound and believed that something like tire pressure is something the dealer would have checked before selling! Now I know one of the first things to check

Its worth while checking them every other week and resetting the tyre pressure monitoring system

 

[Vonlipvig]

Its worth while checking them every other week and resetting the tyre pressure monitoring system

Monitoring system has been reset now and will be checking often, is my daily drive so need to keep her happy