[HackneyRed]

A few days ago I started to notice a slight grinding noise from the brakes. Specifically at slow speed - less road / ambient noise I presume.

I got the car checked out at an Alfa specialist - not used them before but recommended on here and close to where I was working. They said the noise was caused by the disks which had corroded on the inside and would need to be replaced at the same time as the pads. The pads had 3mm on them so this wasn't urgent.

That would be fine but the disks were only put on in May (10,000 miles ago)

I took the car back to the place that put the pads on and was told that this was a common problem - the noise that is - and even higher grade (Tarok) disks make a noise and it's nothing to worry about.

He also said that they'd "meet me half way" when I had the disks replaced.

Now, it didn't occur to me until later that this "meet me half way" offer actually means that the disks need replacing, doesn't it?

So, my questions

1) Is this normal? Do 330mm disks on a 156 GTA make a noise? A sort of grinding, rough metal sound, almost as if there's no pad left and there's something scraping that shouldn't

2) Should I get a third opinion? TBH I'm probably heading to Autolusson on Saturday anyway so may ask if the guys there can have a look.

Lastly the disks were sold to me as used, but noth that used in May last year by the garage who told me it's usual for brakes to make this noise.

 

[gotcha]

1) Is this normal? Do 330mm disks on a 156 GTA make a noise? A sort of grinding, rough metal sound, almost as if there's no pad left and there's something scraping that shouldn't

2) Should I get a third opinion? TBH I'm probably heading to Autolusson on Saturday anyway so may ask if the guys there can have a look.

1) Do you have grooved discs or original flat ones? Originals shouldn’t make such a noise. You can hear some squeal with sporty pads at low speeds but no grinding noise. If you have grooved discs, grinding noise is quite normal but you should hear it since the beginning, not after 10k miles. I have grooved discs and at high speed heavy braking they make sound as an angle grinder cutting steel.

Did your garage just look on the brakes or they took the pads off and examined? You might have uneven pad wear, for example outside pad might be ok, but inner pad already worn to the base metal and making the sound. Or even one pad might be worn at an angle and stuck in the caliper. And 3 mm left on the pad is not that much. They overheat much easier when there is not enough material and transfer more heat to the caliper and brake fluid.

2) Probably yes.

 

[marcevo1]

High iron discs and salted roads make grumbles - but only for the first few dabs in a morning...

3mm of pad = bin!

 

[ReekieVR]

Replace the pads and stop being tight ! Its the cheapest thing to rule out and needs doing anyway. What ya waiting for fella ?

 

[HackneyRed]

Unfortunately tight only comes in to it when I may have to fork out £300 for less than a year old disks.
Pads aren't a problem - getting pads from dealers I don't trust is. Hence the third opinion. I have one place telling me I need disks and pads "soon", a place saying the disks are fine, but they'll replace them when I come in for pads and do me a deal (so do I need disks or not)

I think the third opinion is the one that's going to be the most reliable, unfortunately it's difficult for me to get there with work.

 

[Guest]

Come and see me on saturday morning and I will have a look and give you an honest opinion

John

 

[HackneyRed]

Thanks John, pretty busy this weekend (unfortunately) if I can I'll come over though.
Also have a warning light to check out - the bulb warning light came on yesterday but all lights are working. A fuse maybe?


Cheers

 

[Guest]

No worries,ring me if your coming so I can make sure I have time to look at it for you

cheers
John

 

[Pascs]

Standard discs and pads shouldnt make any kind of grinding noise and if they do then something is not right - I cant see how this could be described as normal

It should be very straight forward for a garage to take the correct measurements of disc thickness and tell you if they need replaced. The fact you need new pads then I would change the discs too anyway - you can buy genuine Brembo 330mm GTA discs off ebay for £139 :thumbs:

What did you have done when the discs were replaced, were the pads replaced at the same time, calipers serviced?

 

[HackneyRed]

I bought the full set up just after I got the car as I was upgrading from 305mm

I'm losing faith with the place I bought the car and the disks. The garage guarenteed them verbally (they also verbally offered a free service at about the same time, yet to be taken up). I'm assuming disks won't be covered by the warranty I have for the car.

I appreciate it's impossible to diagnose via a forum but when one garage tells you they need replacing and one says the noise is normal and they don't need replacing - but offers a deal when I do replace the pads and disks.

I'm saving to get married this year and if I don't need new disks that's fine. If I need them, of course I'll get them. But this is frustrating / annoying etc. Not helped by having no dealer near me and no opportunity to get somewhere with the hours I work.

Hopefully I can juggle things around and take up John's offer

* apologies for frustrated rant about my life there!

 

[ReekieVR]

Why dont you just take them up on their offer?

New standard discs @ half price ( dont think i would ever trust used discs btw.. ! ) and some good pads - search on here for recommended ones. Make sure they give the calipers a good clean up while they are in there.

Then never go there again and find yourself a good indy. Job done.

 

[HackneyRed]

Reluctant to take them up on their offer because I no longer trust the quality of their work.
And free or reduced price is fine until a wheel falls off.

At the time I trusted the place and the quality of what they were selling me. and the fact that they were given with a guarantee definitely helped.

I certainly won't be going there again and have, hopefully, found one or two better places.
Unfortunately neither are that close to where I live, so will require days off work for servicing etc

 

[AYAT]

i developed exactly the same problem a few weeks ago just on cold starts for a few goes then there cool, plenty people have said just surface dust etc but never experienced it before, had my pads replaced all round when i bought the car under a year ago, but discs were ok at time, the cars been braking fine, but good old kwik fit said they will inspect the brakes for free but also mentioned prob just surface residue.

 

[HackneyRed]

Be wary of kwik fit, they have an "as new" policy which means anything that is not 100% they recommend replacing. Fitters are paid commission and low basic, so make money on recommending parts you probably don't need.

 

[wikka69]

Thanks John, pretty busy this weekend (unfortunately) if I can I'll come over though.
Also have a warning light to check out - the bulb warning light came on yesterday but all lights are working. A fuse maybe?


Cheers

every so often i get that bulb warning light come on,and when i check, 1 of me side lights is out(always the same 1)...if i just drop the bonnet,hey presto is working again,and bulb warning light goes off..easy fix.