Clicking noise after rear rotor change...parking brake related?
 

Hi all,

Just changed the rear rotors on the Cayman (2012). The car has a drum-in-disc arrangement for the parking brake. Now, when I'm driving on the road, I hear a clicking noise that corresponds to the speed of the wheels. Pressing the regular brakes does not change the clicking, but pulling up slightly on the parking brake handle makes the clicking go away, but also engages the parking brake. Slight vibration in time with the clicking felt through parking brake handle.

I've readjusted the parking brake shoe mechanism in each wheel per factory instructions (the thing you adjust through the wheel bolt holes) - but it doesn't seem to make any difference.

Any ideas what to check next?

Would a broken or disconnected parking brake cable cause this noise?

ed

(PS - did a search before this - I don't think it's like roundel's failing balls from several years ago, although the sound is very similar.)

It may be a loose spring hold down on one of the shoes. Easy to think it is on and then have it pop off during adjustment. Rotate the rotor around and look carefully through one of the wheel bolt holes with a flash light to ensure both hold downs and the top and bottom cross springs are still attached. You would have a dragging shoe noise when turning the rotor sometimes if it is loose. If the hold down has come off completely it would have fallen to the bottom and be making a more distinctive noise rather than a clicking, I think. Have a look.

Assumption: Frequency is 1 click per wheel revolution.

Can you tell if it's left or right? I'd suggest removing the rotor, blow out everything with compressed air, check the shoes and springs are all where they should be and reassemble. You can also verify both sides are engaging when you lift the e brake.

Good ideas - thanks....

Yes - it seems to be about one click per rev.

Ed

Sounds like a parking brake spring issue. This just happened to me on my Cayman as well and I had the same symptoms, unfortunately for me the springs became chewed up and have to be replaced.... They are not cheap either about $25-$30 per spring! I needed three.

OK - problem solved. It was a brake shoe that was slightly cocked out of position on the right side, near the bottom where the brake cable comes in. Wasn't really visible until I had the wife get in and pull on the brake handle while I was watching the brake mechanism.

Back together, readjusted the parking brake shoe, and everything is good.

Thanks!
ed

Great news. Doesn't it feel good when this kind of detective work works out?

Sure does make you feel dumb for missing something fairly obvious!

ed