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4/10/2013 6:03 PM  #1


Granada disc brake rattle

1955 Crown Vic., 272, 3 spd w/ O/D.  VERY sporadic rattle in brakes at any speed, is rotational, is consistent w/ vehicle speed and will go away with LIGHT touch to the pedal.  Anti-rattlers are correctly in place and disc brake silicone grease is being used.  It may go away for many miles w/ no sound then suddenlly it will start.  After car sits the rattle is usually gone for some time, 'til it decides to start again.

Any help you guys can offer will be greatly appreciated.  It's driving me crazy.

THANKS!!

 

4/10/2013 6:12 PM  #2


Re: Granada disc brake rattle

From the mustangsteve.com web site FAQ pages about how to cure the Granada brake rattle.  It is a simple fix..........
How To Take The Rattle Out Of Granada Disc Brakes
    When a Mustang is converted to Granada or Maverick disc brakes, sometimes a very distinct rattle is heard when driving the car over even the slightest bumps.
That rattle is caused by the brake pads rattling around in the caliper.
    First, the inboard pad:
    The inboard pad is held in place by the caliper bracket and has a small piece of spring steel clipped onto one end of it.  If the spring is cracked or missing or has lost tension, the pad can move back and forth as much as 1/8”.  Be sure the spring is in good condition. It goes on the trailing edge of the pad (towards the back of the car).  If yours is missing, you can obtain them from most auto parts stores.  All new pads come with the springs, but sometimes they are loose in the box and get lost before you ever buy the pads.
    Now for the outboard pad, which is usually the main culprit:
    The outboard pad is held to the caliper by a steel tang on the outer part of the pad, one on each end of it.  The tangs are designed to clamp tightly around the caliper to hold it tight.  They get loose as the tabs are (unknowingly) sometimes widened to ease installation of the pads onto the calipers.  If the tangs are not clamped tightly to the caliper, a severe rattle will result.  The best fix involves two things.  The first is to make sure the tangs are as tight on the caliper as you can possibly get them.  The best way to get them that way is to put the caliper with the pad attached into a press or large vise and press the tangs solidly against the caliper.  If you don’t want to remove the caliper (and you probably won’t want to ), you can put the pad in a vise and bend the tabs so they will fit tightly on the caliper. 
    Once you do this, you will find it nearly impossible to get the pads onto the caliper so, before you even try, take a grinder or a file and grind a 1/8” chamfer on the tang to allow it to make it across the sharp edge of the caliper.  Make a trial fit to be sure it fits real tight and can not move in the caliper.  Now remove the pad once more.  Clean the mating surface inside the caliper with some coarse sandpaper or wire brush.  Do the same to the part of the pad that rests against the inside of the caliper.  Cover the back of the pad with some RTV Ultra Black or high temperature RTV gasket maker.  Install the pads back into the calipers, then the assembly onto the spindle before the RTV sets up.  Get in the car and push hard on the brake pedal to seat the pads into the RTV and caliper. (Make sure BOTH calipers are installed at the time you hit the pedal or you will be rebuilding the caliper that was not mounted).
    Now, go drive the car and heat up the brakes to cure the RTV and they will never rattle again.

The RTV is optional.  If you get those tangs pressed tight against the caliper, they will cease to rattle.  RTV helps reduce high frequency vibration that results in brake squeal.


Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
 

4/15/2013 5:11 PM  #3


Re: Granada disc brake rattle

Thanks for the tips.  I've been out of town for a few days so will give it a try soon.

     Thread Starter
 

4/21/2013 8:52 AM  #4


Re: Granada disc brake rattle

Did the mod as you suggested.  While bending the tabs on the pads, one broke (not your kit, BTW).  So bought a new set of pads which turn out to be much higher quality and better fit to calipers.  To this point,~150 miles, have experienced NO strange noises AND the brakes feel better.  With fingers crossed, we shall hope for the best.

Thanks so much for the tip.

     Thread Starter
 

Board footera


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