[asdflkijd]

Have any of you guys noticed a weird "click" sound when braking? It happens on and off and only when I'm coming to a near stop (very slow speed).

The sound is more like a metallic CLICK, seems like its coming from the front brakes. When I hear the sound, I can feel it in the brake pedal as well. It feels like a loose latch in the brake or if something is trying to connect but is having trouble.. It's kind of hard to explain. But the noise is clearly noticeable inside the car and out.

I took it in to the dealership many of times but they were unable to find anything and were unable to "reproduce" the issue. They said they couldn't even look at it because there were no fault codes. Now the car is out of warranty and I feel that this may be an pain in the ass.

I'll post a video soon, I'm uploading it onto youtube now..




Note: this isn't my video but I found this on youtube. This is exactly the same noise I am experiencing with my car. Listen closely at 0:07.

[Glim]

[quote=asdflkijd;10283451]Have any of you guys noticed a weird "click" sound when braking? It happens on and off and only when I'm coming to a near stop (very slow speed).

The sound is more like a metallic CLICK, seems like its coming from the front brakes. When I hear the sound, I can feel it in the brake pedal as well. It feels like a loose latch in the brake or if something is trying to connect but is having trouble.. It's kind of hard to explain. But the noise is clearly noticeable inside the car and out.
QUOTE]

I am 99.9% sure it will be your control arm bushings and or ball joints.

[asdflkijd]

[quote=Glim;10283516]

Originally Posted by asdflkijd

Have any of you guys noticed a weird "click" sound when braking? It happens on and off and only when I'm coming to a near stop (very slow speed).

The sound is more like a metallic CLICK, seems like its coming from the front brakes. When I hear the sound, I can feel it in the brake pedal as well. It feels like a loose latch in the brake or if something is trying to connect but is having trouble.. It's kind of hard to explain. But the noise is clearly noticeable inside the car and out.
QUOTE]

I am 99.9% sure it will be your control arm bushings and or ball joints.

The noise has been coming on and off sometime before the dealership replaced my control arm bushing and its still there.. I went to the dealership at least 3 times after they replaced my control arm bushing to go on a test drive to let them hear the noise. And of course, every time I did, the sound does not appear. Fuck.

[Glim]

Already replaced bushings - then if it is still under warranty have them replace the control arms.

[asdflkijd]

The warranty expired as of august 1st. Do you think they will replace the control arm under goodfaith? Since I mentioned the issue in the past and they were unable to completely fix the problem?

[Glim]

Never hurts to ask

Bring in your records as backup

[asdflkijd]

I took in the car today for a brake fluid change and told them about the same noise since my last visit, its been some time so I don't think they will honor my warranty service but we'll see.. At least they aren't charging me to "diagnose it" whatever that may mean, they are probably just going to take it for a test spin --;;

[Three_thirty_I]

Maybe take the car to a suspension place and have them inspect/test the various bushes and suspension components. Just another thought, are you maybe experiencing this after reversing and braking, then going forward and braking? For example in a parking area - then this is normal play in the brake calliper with the brake pads, well known to produce a cluck noise. So then not really a problem, but I gather it is doing this in general...

Keep us posted!

[fastaction]

brake pad retention springs noise for sure

[asdflkijd]

Originally Posted by Three_thirty_I

Maybe take the car to a suspension place and have them inspect/test the various bushes and suspension components. Just another thought, are you maybe experiencing this after reversing and braking, then going forward and braking? For example in a parking area - then this is normal play in the brake calliper with the brake pads, well known to produce a cluck noise. So then not really a problem, but I gather it is doing this in general...

Keep us posted!

Yup... exactly how you described it, I see it happening when I reverse out of a parking spot and braking after accelerating. It's so annoying sometimes, just worried me because I could also "feel" it in the brake pedal.

After I kind of got frustrated because they couldn't find anything wrong or they didn't even know what I was describing. I even had a video that I had taken on my iphone to show them the noise, they told me to just wait until it actually becomes a problem and needs to be fixed. Ummm... What if this shit was serious and my brakes failed while I was driving? I wanted to hop over that table and slap him in the face for making such an ignorant remark.

[asdflkijd]

Originally Posted by fastaction

brake pad retention springs noise for sure

I'm pretty sure they change my brake pads a while ago before my car started making this noise. Literally just sounds like a metal "POP" noise.

[Casca]

Originally Posted by asdflkijd

I'm pretty sure they change my brake pads a while ago before my car started making this noise. Literally just sounds like a metal "POP" noise.

I'd listen to what he said. If you can feel it in the brake pedals, probably not a suspension issue. Just take the wheels off if you cannot see the brakes with them on and do a visual inspection of the spring and everything




That spring could have been installed half-assed and worked it's way to being loose (my guess is half on) and you probably would feel it in the brakes and it might make a popping metallic noise. Easy check.

[asdflkijd]

Originally Posted by Casca

I'd listen to what he said. If you can feel it in the brake pedals, probably not a suspension issue. Just take the wheels off if you cannot see the brakes with them on and do a visual inspection of the spring and everything




That spring could have been installed half-assed and worked it's way to being loose (my guess is half on) and you probably would feel it in the brakes and it might make a popping metallic noise. Easy check.

I don't have the tools to take off my wheels, do you think it would be an easy check if I took it to a tire shop? When my car was in service couple weeks ago, I complained about the noise so they did a "complimentary" multi-point inspection...

Of course they didn't find anything and when I called and asked the SA if they took a look at the brakes etc, and he couldn't give me a straight answer, just kept saying "it should have been checked"

[MilwMonstr]

I have the same problem, and i think it is the brake pads shifting in the calipers. i only get the noise under light braking, if i brake hard, no noise. if i brake hard and then ease up... click-click. the noise is coming from both sides.

i dissassembled one side last week and it appeared that there were heavy witness marks where the outer pad rests on the slide. obviously, there should be some marks, but not as heavy as what i saw. also i felt like there was exsessive movement in the caliper. this is my first experience with the brakes in this car (2007 335i) but i don't recall ever being able to lift the caliper body a 1/2" from the slide bracket.

my solution is to do a full brake job, ordered Hawk pads (PC's) and bronze slide bushings from BMP to tighten everything up. the previous owner put akebono (sp?) pads on the car.

the parts are on my bench, but i don't think i will have time to do the work until next weekend. i will let you know. definitely not a loose spring clip though.

....also the previous owner replaced the control arms last year when he had a set of Koni's installed.

[MilwMonstr]

well, i effed up and ordered BMP brass sliders for the rear, so those need to go back, but i replaced the Akebono pads with Hawk PCs anyways and the noise is gone so far (20 miles). unfortunately i was still able to do this:



i find the design of these calipers to be very odd. the outer pad is clipped and located tightly into the floating part of the caliper, while given very loose tolerances on the fixed bracket. (i measured .026" gap, see pic). since the floating portion of the caliper is rubber mounted, the braking forces are free to move the caliper back and forth by whatever that gap is.



i unfortunately didn't think to measure or slap around the caliper when the other pads where in.

[asdflkijd]

Great stuff... Now that you've Put more miles on the car since your post do you notice the noise?

[MilwMonstr]

nope, still quiet, and i have been commuting 150 miles a day this week. i wish i would have measured the locating tab separation on the new pads compared to the old pads before installing. i would like to say it was the pads, but i can't ignore the fact that i disassembled, cleaned and lubed the pins and pad sliding surface. while i don't like the movement in the caliper(vid), that was clearly not the source of the noise.

[GASP]

In for updates

[Kid Eh]

I experienced the same noise when I got Akebono pads. It's embarrassing. These pads suck. Great for brake dust but that's about all. I'll never get them again.

[asdflkijd]

Originally Posted by Kid Eh

I experienced the same noise when I got Akebono pads. It's embarrassing. These pads suck. Great for brake dust but that's about all. I'll never get them again.

Mind you this happens on my STOCK pads

[k3m0-330i]

Maying been doing it and it took the dealer almost 2 weeks to find the issue.. Any issues yet...

[MilwMonstr]

to update all, after nearly 6 months and 5000 miles, the front brakes are still silent. clearly it was the akebono pads.