Sticky brake calliper x2 :(

tomscott

tomscott

Elite
 Manchester
Hi Guys,

Had a sticky calliper about 2 years ago, last time the right calliper made the car feel like the wheel was about to come off and was undrivable. Booked it in sorted under warranty.

Yesterday I was driving to the North east and the car is making this loud droning noise, sounds like its coming from the left side either toward wheel or the middle of the car. Sounds like the wheel is catching the liner. Quick check its not, the wheel is at the correct pressure, steering isn't giving much feedback of a problem, the car is pulling to the left very very slightly to the point its more likely the camber of the road. When braking hard the steering gives a very slight judder but nothing that screams problems.

After driving 100 miles home the left brake disc was no hotter than the right.

Its just making a very loud droning noise.

The only other thing I can think is I cleaned the car on wed night, quick spin round the block to get rid of water but was dark so didn't get chance to dry it off, left it there for 4 days (schoolboy error) as its been pissing down and didn't need to use it. Got it out the garage and the brakes were stuck like they do, and there is a very slight impression on the left disc of the pad, same with the right. Could that be creating the problem?? but after 200 miles the sound is still there, the impression is still there. Car seems to drive ok...

Other than that any thoughts before I ring the stealers? Only reason I haven't is because its the weekend and haven't really needed the car and the garage is 20 miles away and is difficult to get it there and back in working hours.

Sticky callipers seem to be a problem but surely its bad luck to have two in a two and half year period..

Cheers
 
So a few simple tests will narrow it down.

Is the droning road speed or engine/gear speed related? If independent of the revs, then that points towards the wheels and hubs and not the gears/diff engine etc.

Is it more pronounced if you turn left or right?

Does the droning get worst or less if braking?

The mark on the disc is where the pad corroded and stuck to the pad when wet, this can cause an odd noise, but it is normally worn off after 1 or 2 sturdy brake applications.

If jet washed, the dust shields can move/one of the screws come loose and it vibrates and echoes in the wheel well as a drone....only seen it on an E36 M3 before though.

Droning can be an odd wear pattern on the tyres or even one wheel with a lower pressure can cause it, even alignment out on one wheel.....but these are pretty rare causes.
 
Sorry I forgot to mention!

When braking the noise lessens but doesn't disappear. The other thought was the drivetrain could it be the diff? Hard to pinpoint exactly because of the M drone as it is. But when taken out of gear it seems to be coming from the passenger left.

The noise is louder the faster you go, noticeable after 35mph really annoying at 70, more annoying than the exhaust drone, but not as loud. The car was washed with a hose don't use pressure washers, wheels were cleaned with a wheel cleaner which is new, but its simoniz so wouldn't have thought that would be an issue. It has just started within the last week but I haven't been out in it a lot recently.

I was thinking could it be the tyre noise but had the same tyres on the car for 2 years and I haven't had problems with them at all.

I have trailed the brakes and have done a few emergency stops to try to remove the residue, no improvement. Breaks don't seem to be affected work great.

The M is droney with the exhaust but the noise is coming from the passenger side not the drivers and is pronounced.
 
You have a sticky passenger side front caliper. Sound like your issues are identical to mine other than you don't have the temperature after a drive. Easiest way to rule it out is take the wheel off, unbolt the caliper and it should slide off freely. If it takes quite a bit of effort to get it off, then there is your problem.

For some reason, the passenger side front caliper sticking seems to be a very common problem with M's.
 
What about a wheel bearing. A drone sounds more like a bearing.

Heat and vibration to me would sound more like caliper. Any excess brake dust on that side?

My faulty caliper went from me noticing something to stopped on the hard shoulder the TPS warning light on and brake smoking in about 20 miles!
 
That's what makes me wonder too as my first sticky calliper was very obvious. With this not much more than a drone. Il get it to the stealers!

Cheers for the thoughts guys
 
I reckon it could be wheel bearing too. Especially if it only starts being noticeable above 35mph


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Wheel baring is a more obvious candidate here as I too had a sticking caliper and there was little drone, but lots of vibration, heat and dust......none of these you mention.

If at speed you dip clutch and let the engine and revs fall, is the drone the same? If you corner does this effect the drone? If the drone is the same with no load on the diff, I would say the diff is fine.....not scientific, but if you are not putting load into it and the noise is the same then it would suggest that this is not pinion and crown wheel ware. It does not rule out drive shafts and cv joints, but these are very uncommon fusiliers.

I had a near side front bearing fail on my 118d coupe, and that was very pronounced when turning right. I must admit to being perplexed that the noise lessens through breaking though if it is a bearing......
 
Had wheel bearing issues before that produced this kind of noise.

Also had the brake pad imprint on the disc following my long euro stint - it did result in a bit of brake rumble under braking for a while but eventually wears off - i did the 60-0 hard braking thing 5-6 times (by the end the brakes start to fade). just be careful to not sit on the pedal afterwards when stopped as this is how it creates the imprint when brakes are hot. use the handbrake. you could try this to rule it out but it made more of a pronounced brake rumble (more than norm) rather than drone noise for me.
 
If it's the wheel bearing, the noise is usually worse when the car is cornering on the affected side. I've experienced this problem with 2 different cars a long time ago in the past.
 
Hey guys,

Thanks for the suggestions. Currently at Batemans BMW although the noise seemed to be coming from the passenger side they have determined that its the driver side wheel bearing. Had a stethoscope on it apparently, so good news having it swapped as we speak an hour and 15. Also had a problem with the driver side seatbelt that it won't retract so having that replaced too! Nice new one will be nice. All covered under warranty so chuffed.

Thats a plus for the warranty in 6 months Ive claimed for the wheel bearing, seatbelt and a new xenon well over 1k +labour so paid for itself and then some :thumbsup:
 
Good news Tom. Feels good to make the most if a warranty [emoji3] is yours an extended warranty that you've paid for now?

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Ye the car feels like a different car! Had a good hoon back.

Ye its the fully insured BMW warranty £88 a month tad on the expensive side but then its paid for itself. If I would have had to pay for the repairs all in one go I would feel a little sick I think :cry:
 
Absolutely Tom, I've already decided that I'll be signing up to that after year 1. The small things on these soon add up!

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Yep mechanically they are fairly sound but its all the rest and when it goes.. it usually goes lol! Ive claimed about 3k on my warranty in 3 years worth it IMO
 
I think mine is over 2k in a month haha! Over something and nothing! I got a free catalyst out of it at least.

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