Dear Tom and Ray:

I have a clicking noise coming from the right rear wheel of my 1982 Datsun 200SX. This noise comes and goes, but it keeps getting worse and worse. The noise always stops when I apply the brake. My mechanic and Midas Muffler have both inspected my brakes and declared them OK. I think the problem may be a caliper. What do you think? Paul

Tom: Well, you already have the problem three-quarters solved, Paul. You know that it's coming from the right rear wheel, and you know it goes away when you step on the brakes. So you've got two choices now. You can either remove the right rear wheel entirely and drive around without it, or you can start replacing some brake components.

Ray: I'd start with the brake hardware, Paul. If one of the pads were a little bit loose, it could be shifting around as the disc spins and hitting the caliper.

Tom: But the sound is more likely to be coming from a warped rotor. It may not be creating any real braking problems yet, but it may be warped enough to just nick the brake pad as it comes around.

Ray: And it may not be warped enough that you can feel a pulsing in the pedal when you apply the brake at high speeds, but if it's the rotor, you eventually will.

Tom: Ask your mechanic to look again. Have him change the brake hardware and put his dial indicator on that rotor. I'm sure he'll find the problem.

Tom and Ray share secrets mechanics don't want you to know in their pamphlet Ten Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car Without Even Knowing It! To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1994 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

Back to the February 1994 index