Clinking Noise Front Nearside

[TigerFish]

Well Folks,

I had my NCT (MoT) done last night and I mentioned this very noise to the tester because the supplying Lexus dealer guaranteed a "Pass" or any work needed would be done free of charge. In the event the car passed but he diagnosed the noise as being worn or missing bushes in the front left brake caliper.

I'm open to correction on this but it seems that part of the caliper has to be removed to change the brake pads and the holes that the bolts pass through in the removeable part are bushed and these bushes are worn or missing. No amount of tightening will take up the slack. I'm making an appointment with the dealer this afternoon and I'll update when the problem is solved.

I hope this makes sense; I've not had a wheel off yet to see the exact set-up of the brakes!

The IS front caliper/disc/pad arrangement is identical to the GS, the tutorial I did here should show enough detail on how they work.

Disc and pad change tutorial

The slide pins should be greased and/or overhauled at the same time. The only bush I can think of from your description is on the slide pin. This link is the slide pin overhaul guide I did.

Slide Pin Overhaul

[Lance]

I have had a rattle in the NSF area of my car for as long as I can remember, I've had mechanics look at it and every one telling me it's the shocks, or the ARB bushes or drop links, heat shied, gear linkage, top mounts...

I have diagnosed it is none of those things! How? I took it for a drive over some rough potholed streets and got the noise going, then with my foot on the accelerator I put my left foot LIGHTLY on the footbrake, just enough for it to put the pads tight to the disc... guess what?? NO NOISE!!!!!

So it's somewhere in the brakes... Clips? Possibly? Caliper slide pin? Who knows??

What I'm gonna do next weekend is remove the pads and trap off the brake line with vice grips...(take it very easy on the brakes, no more than 20mph either) take it for a drive and see if the rattle goes. If it does go away then its the clips at the pads if not it must the caliper itself...

I'll let you know how it goes... hopefully after three years the end may be in sight!!

[dazz32]

Right the problem that everyone is saying about is the metal clips that hold the pads in the calliper housing

what happens is over time some longer than others the metal clips become weak or slack and no matter if you go over bumps in the road,over pot holes,turning to park up left or right...you still get that metal "clonking noise"

Now all you do is

1.either buy a new set of metal retaining clips for your pads( if they are broken or missing ) .........OR

2.take the pads out and the metal clips and gently pull the centre part of the clip up or out (you will know what i mean when you take the pads and clips out) ( also be very carfull not to break the clips )

Once finished gently push or tap the pads back in and hey presto the noise will have gone as it holds the pad more tightly or firmer in the callpier housing..........for the time being i might add...you may need to do this a couple of times in a few months.....

takes no more than twenty-30 mins either side including taking wheels of etc....