Peugeot 107 - Knocking noise after changing brake pads and discs

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Mon 18 Jun 2012 11:44
Peugeot 107 - Knocking noise after changing brake pads and discs - wolfetone

Hi all,

On Saturday I changed the front brake discs and brake pads on my Peugeot 107. After I completed the job, I took it for a spin and it was all fine. I drove it on Sunday to the shop and again it was fine to drive.

However, this morning as I took to the motorway, I started hearing a knocking noise coming from the front of the car. I could feel the knocking through the steering wheel (faintly) but the knocking felt mour pronounced when my foot was on the accelerator. I took the car out of gear and revved the engine and I couldn't hear a knocking sound and I didn't feel any vibrations. When I put the car back in to gear and carried on I could feel the vibrations again. As I neared my destination the vibration became worse. The vibration and knocking noises get quicker the faster I drive. And when I pull off slowly I can feel something catching.

I am nearly certain the knocking is coming from the right hand side. I visually inspected the wheel (without taking the wheel off because I was late getting in to work) and the pad seem to be quite close to the brake disc.

When changing the brake discs and pads, I took the caliper off to access the disc. When I put everything back on, I made sure that all the nuts I took off (four in total, and one screw for the disc) were put back on and secure before I put the wheel back on.

What is the likely cause? I'm contemplating ringing the RAC because I don't fancy driving it back home while it makes this noise.

Thanks in advance!

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Mon 18 Jun 2012 11:52
Peugeot 107 - Knocking noise after changing brake pads and discs - gordonbennet

Firstly check the obvious one, are the front wheelnuts all tight, you shouldn't have needed to disturb the bearing, but if you did check the large nut is secure and locked in some way.

If its not that you have no option but to jack the car up remove the wheels and look to see whats wrong, loose caliper is a possibility, another is that the pins/clips that secure the pads might have dislodged, so look to see the pads are in place.

One other thing, did you clean the hub well before fitting the new disc, unless the hub is scrupulously clean you could have the disc not quite flush.

Edited by gordonbennet on 18/06/2012 at 11:54

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Mon 18 Jun 2012 12:02
Peugeot 107 - Knocking noise after changing brake pads and discs - wolfetone

I checked both wheels after I put the wheels back on for any play and I didn't find anything then. But I will check it out again on my lunch break. I will also check the wheel nuts, I'm more than certain that these were tight as well.

I will jack the car up at lunch. One thing I have to ask is that one guy I spoke to before doing the job said I would need to change the pins/clips when changing the pads. I couldn't see any pins just clips, and I didn't replace these. The pads never came with any clips in the first place.

I didn't clean the wheel hub before putting the disc on, I didn't know I had to? Not quite sure how I'll check this at lunch as I don't have the tools with me.

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Mon 18 Jun 2012 12:12
Peugeot 107 - Knocking noise after changing brake pads and discs - gordonbennet

Don't usually replace pad pins/clips unless they are broken or corroded.

Its best to firmly wire brush the hub to remove any build up of rust before fitting new discs, paying special attention round the wheels bolts and spigot, you'll probably be OK, if the disc isn't flush you would have constant juddering every time you brake, but that would have been apparent the first time you braked, so you'll probably be OK there.

Its good practice to clean the new disc friction surface with solvent, eg brake cleaner before fitting too, it will have had some anti rust film applied at the factory.

Nice little DIY guide to this job on the Toyota forum for the Aygo, might be worth a peruse to make sure yours looks like this when you jack up.www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopi...2

though IMO the poster in question slopped far too much coppaslip about, shouldn't be plastered like that on the hub face.

Edited by gordonbennet on 18/06/2012 at 12:15

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Mon 18 Jun 2012 12:19
Peugeot 107 - Knocking noise after changing brake pads and discs - wolfetone

Well the clips were definately not corroded! The car is a 60 plate so it's not old at all.

Under braking it's fine, it's like a new car. Stops in a straight line, stops quickly, and doesn't vibrate or anything under braking.

I'll look at the guide and report back after I look at the car.

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Mon 18 Jun 2012 15:02
Peugeot 107 - Knocking noise after changing brake pads and discs - wolfetone

Well, I checked to see if the wheel nuts were tight and they weren't. I tightened them up and drove the car and all is well again.

I'm going to keep an eye on them, I swear blind I did them tight.

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Mon 18 Jun 2012 15:29
Peugeot 107 - Knocking noise after changing brake pads and discs - gordonbennet

Ah well done, if i may humbly suggest, when you have time to nip the front wheels off and just recheck that the caliper bolts etc are secure.

Thanks for the update.

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Mon 18 Jun 2012 16:25
Peugeot 107 - Knocking noise after changing brake pads and discs - Peter D

Do you use a torque wrench when working on cars ? Regards Peter

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Mon 18 Jun 2012 16:40
Peugeot 107 - Knocking noise after changing brake pads and discs - gordonbennet

Do you use a torque wrench when working on cars ? Regards Peter

I presume the question is for the OP.

Confess I rarely use the torque wrench, only when involved with inner engine stuff, clutch plates and the like, for general maintenance work no, certainly never torque wheels up.

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Mon 18 Jun 2012 17:28
Peugeot 107 - Knocking noise after changing brake pads and discs - bathtub tom

>>Do you use a torque wrench when working on cars ? Regards Peter

An old mechanic taught me the correct torque was the force you could apply to the end of a spanner with two fingers, assuming the correct size threaded fitting had been specified.

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Mon 18 Jun 2012 21:09
Peugeot 107 - Knocking noise after changing brake pads and discs - Peter D

And how long was the spanner then. Many wheel nuts are 100/120 Nm and you are not pulling that with a spanner and two fingers. If the OP thinks he tightened the wheel bolts/nuts correctly then I suggest he rechecks the caliper bolts with a Torque wrench ASAP and before he drives the car again. Regards Peter

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