Not Used My Car In Months. Noisy Ehen Braking

[Kathdoug76]

I've not used my VW Golf 13 plate for a few months. Just went out in it and there is a banging sound coming from front brakes when applying the brakes.

It was perfectly fine when I last used my car.

I've been out for a few miles and used brakes alot. Brakes seem to work fine apart from noise.
Is it rust on the brakes?

[bhg481]

It's unlikely to be rust on the rotors as that clears very quickly when using the brakes. It's very difficult to isolate noises as they travel around the chassis and sound like they're coming from somewhere they're not; I spent ages trying to cure a knocking noise which sounded like the exhaust knocking on the rear underside of the car and it turned out to be a front shock absorber. It could be that one of your shock absorbers has failed with lack of use; I hate to recommend garages but I think, in this case, having the car on a rolling road might be the way to locate the problem.

[Buenchico]

The brakes are probably binding to some extent. My local garage fixed a similar problem recently for £40 + £8 VAT.

[ToraToraTora]

now you have used them are the discs clean or do they still have rust on them? When breaking hard do you get any vibration back through the pedal?

[Kathdoug76]

Hi. Discs look clean and no vibration when braking

[derekpara]

If vehicles are unused for a long while the tyres can get s flat surface where resting on hard ground. This misshape usually goes after a few minutes. Probably not your problem but worth bearing in mind.

D

[derekpara]

Forgot to ad that the tyres with a short flattened surface will make a knocking sound as they rotate. This sorts itself out after a short drive of a mile or so.

[bhg481]

Are you a very gentle braker or a heavy-footed one? Does the level of noise vary with how hard you brake?

[TonyV]

Only an educated guess but maybe brake pads have delaminated. You will only know with wheels of.

[bhg481]

Another question; does the frequency of the banging depend on the speed of the car ie, are there more bangs/second if you're travelling faster when you start to brake?

[Kathdoug76]

The banging is louder when I am braking from fast but quieter when braking at a slower speed

[TonyV]

I again suggest you get brake pads checked. Could just be some loose retaining plates.

[bhg481]

Did you leave the car with the handbrake on for the whole time you weren't using it? I know you think the noise is coming from the front of the car but, as I said in my initial response to you, noises do travel around the bodywork. If you left the handbrake on it could be the rear brakes which are making the noise.

[Kathdoug76]

Yes, I left the hand brake on. I had better take it to a garage and get it checked out.

[shoota]

Can you not just turn the radio up? ;-)

[TonyV]

Kath they may have seized on, they can be released by driving car with brakes on while using accelerator.

[bhg481]

You can get a free brake check at Halford's Autocentres. They obviously do it in the hope of getting the job if there's a problem but I've used them for years for MoTs and found them to be fair. Kwik-Fit also do free checks but they have a reputation for "finding" work to be done.

[Kathdoug76]

Just to let you all know I drove my car today. It was still making to banging noises when braking. I inflated the tyres which didn't help.
I then took it to the jetwash and I sprayed the brake pads and discs.....hey presto, no more noise when braking. All sounds good and brakes work how they should. Thanks for all the advice guys.

[bhg481]

Thanks for letting us know - not everybody bothers.

[lankeela]

Shoota - someone after my own heart!