Help..brakes growling?

GarzaFX45

Member
Location
Dallas, TX
Ok, ever since I bought my FX45 it has what sounds/feels like a growl from the brakes (ONLY growls when brakes are applied). It had some worn Toyo'sw/22"s on it which were loud. I recently purchased brand new Rotorpros rotors and pads, AND bought brand new Yokohama Paradas for the stock 20"s. I put all the new brake stuff on and it still growls. I then put the new tire/wheel combo and yep it still growls..........Long story short I just sold it to my mother who loves the car but is considering trading it in due to this growl (I was hoping she wouldn't notice it, but her and my dad both did.) She's more picky than me lol....

Anyway does anyone have an idea what this might be? Wheel bearings?...the growl gets deeper as you approach a stop and you can also feel it through the pedal...but the pedal does not vibrate like warped rotors. It did this with both the old and new ones.

Thanks,
Ricky
 
Ok, ever since I bought my FX45 it has what sounds/feels like a growl from the brakes (ONLY growls when brakes are applied). It had some worn Toyo'sw/22"s on it which were loud. I recently purchased brand new Rotorpros rotors and pads, AND bought brand new Yokohama Paradas for the stock 20"s. I put all the new brake stuff on and it still growls. I then put the new tire/wheel combo and yep it still growls..........Long story short I just sold it to my mother who loves the car but is considering trading it in due to this growl (I was hoping she wouldn't notice it, but her and my dad both did.) She's more picky than me lol....

Anyway does anyone have an idea what this might be? Wheel bearings?...the growl gets deeper as you approach a stop and you can also feel it through the pedal...but the pedal does not vibrate like warped rotors. It did this with both the old and new ones.

Thanks,
Ricky

1) Rotorpro rotors are Centric Rotors. Unless you requested premium centric rotors, you most likely got the basic centric rotor. These are not OEM and size is not exactly the same, but they fit. Some issues could be rubbing against the rotor backing plate (heat/splash guard), it's the black piece of metal behind the rotor. Since it only happens at coming to a stop, you can cross this out. But still check it out.

2) Wheel bearings -- only at a stop, you can cross this out. When they go bad, they constantly make a whirling sound.

3) Do you have slotted rotors? You get a growling sound and you feel it in the brake pedal too. I only feel and hear it on heavy braking (I have slotted). If you hear it all the time, your slots could be faulty (slotted incorrectly).

Did you check the rotation? Put the on the right side (left or right)? If you turn slotted rotors too, you'll most likely make the slots sharp like razor blades and will get the sound you're talking about and eat up your pads.

4) I was going to say just buy OEM pads and rotors and be done with it, but you mention this happened with your old and new rotors/pads? If your old rotors weren't OEM, try that.

5) Just a thought, is your parking/e-brake slightly engaged?
 
new rotors take a bit to break in.... There will be growling sound in the beginning and it will go away after you break them in. How many miles do you have on the rotors?

Try stopping from 40 MPH to 15 MPH with moderate braking couple of times.
 
Thanks for the replies..actually yes mine are drilled and slotted. The rotors have been on for more than 5000 miles now. I need to check pad wear too. After that I don't know other than to put OEM stuff on.
 
I have been having the same issues. I have about 5K on my new brakes and they howl like a banshee, especially when it is cold. A few hard stops will quiet them for a little bit, until the cool off again. They have quite a shine on them too. They are stock Infiniti rotors and pads that were put on when I bought it from the dealership.
 
Having the rotors turned because they are glazed pretty bad. Also putting on new pads. Hope that will do the trick.

I suggest against this. Bed your brakes and it will remove the glaze.

My brakes squeal after the glaze builds up but after a quick bedding, gone. The cost to turn is expensive if you don't remove your own rotors and bring them in yourself.
 
Thanks Chedman13. Good advice that I would normally take....

I have been attempting to bed the brakes for about 3K miles now. It is possible that I don't do it correctly, but I have successfully worn the pads away (except for the nice glassy coating) and they still have a nice shiny glaze on the front rotors. I am having the stealership do a 60K service, fix a loose seat, and replace a rear view mirror actuator (warranty stuff) so, I figured I would have then clean up the brakes. Although not the most fiscally responsible decision, I would like to get it remedied.

I will certainly try and bed the new pads on the freshly turned rotors correctly from the get go.
 
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