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Rattle after brake job

19K views 22 replies 12 participants last post by  TalonTsi90 
#1 ·
Hey guys,

I just had my OEM rotors and pads replaced on my 2014 6 GT with Centric parts (ordered from rockauto.com). I now notice a rattle coming from the front left when driving over certain cracks and bumps in the road. I took my car back to the shop that performed the service but they didn't find anything wrong. I even had my neighbor take a look (ex-Toyota mechanic) and he couldn't find a problem either. I've been reading about other cars with a similar issue and it was anti-rattle springs, but based on the brake assembly diagrams I've seen, those don't exist on this car. I'm not sure if they retained the OEM clips or used those included with the Posi Quiet pads. Is there anyone here that can help me? I greatly appreciate any help. Thanks.
 
#2 ·
Anti rattle springs usually help prevent noises when applying the brakes...not rattles from the front end. It's possible they have left something off the brakes that is causing the noise, but it doesnt sound like any brake related noise I've ever heard...but, hey anything is possible.

Can you take your mechanic on a test drive and show him where and when the noise occurs? That could help him pinpoint the source of the noise.
 
#5 ·
The noise isn't heard when applying the brakes and driving over a crack where it consistently occurs. It seems that the shims and clips are all in place. I'll have to take it in to get it checked out if I can't figure it out myself. It has been pretty annoying. Thanks for your response.
 
#3 ·
It's probably the cover behind the rotor. The centric rotors are a tad thicker and I had the issue that they would hit that cover lightly when driving over rough terrain or pot holes .. sounded like a loud rattle.

I just bend the cover and pushed it a bit towards the inside. Rattle gone. It's flexible sheet metal.
 
#6 ·
On another vehicle I own, I've had a clack sound that I suspect is my brake pads moving around on their pins. It's a work truck so I don't really feel the need to fix it, but I suspect that might be what's going on with yours. The pads might be "rattling" a bit when you go over a significant bump.
 
#9 ·
Did you find the cause of this? I changed the rotors on my 2014 Sport last night and I now have a rattle on one side when driving over bumps and even cracks in the road.
 
#10 ·
Just want to what I found regarding rattles after front brakes have been replaced. I have one of the first GJ series Mazda 6 Sport build date 11/2012. Purchased new in Feb 2013. After about 12 months my front brakes started to shudder. It was mild, and only when high speed braking. Dealer had the Rotors machined all seemed fine. Then shudder returned again, Rotors machined again. On the 3rd time I asked to have the rotors replaced under warranty which was denied. So machined again. Shudder returned and I learned to live with it for the next three years. At 131,000 km was advised to replace front and rear pads. Had it done by a brake specialist. Yep, rotors machined again. 3 months later, after having issues with the work done, the shudder returning plus added squealing brakes and also a Rattle from the Drivers front area I just could not find. Took it to a suspension place. They could not find anything wrong. But they did mention that there is a rattle. I had had enough. So I purchased new front rotors and Genuine Mazda Pads. Fitted them. Shudder and squeal gone. Happy days. This is when I realized that my front pads did not have the Anti rattle clips fitted to the pads. There were 4 of them sitting in the Mazda Brake Pad box. All this time. This rattle sounded so much like the top bearing plate of the strut starting to get noisy. But it only rattled on some sharp bumps in the road. Not all of them. Just some. It would not rattle when braking though. I was even contemplating removing the strut and replacing the bearing at one stage.
Look sorry for a long Post. I had many months of trying to work out what this damn rattle was. The answer 4 Anti Rattle clips. One fitted top side of each Pad.
Hope this helps the next Mazda owner with a weird rattle.
 

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#11 ·
Look sorry for a long Post. I had many months of trying to work out what this damn rattle was. The answer 4 Anti Rattle clips. One fitted top side of each Pad.
Hope this helps the next Mazda owner with a weird rattle.
I don't have any rattling sounds since I replaced the brake pads but I'm taking note of this should I replace the pads of my son's car.
 
#12 ·
Just an FYI Soul Red,

Some may call those anti rattle clips, but those are your front mechanical wear indicator clips. They make a squeak noise when your pads are worn down. They are required to go on the top end of all four front brake pads (for some years and models). Without them, there is not enough tension and they move around and rattle. Shocked that a dealer and a suspension shop did not catch this!?! ....but glad you did.
 
#15 ·
Hi College Car,
Thanks. Glad I did too. I think everyone was looking a the suspension first. I believed it was.
Regarding these clips, not sure we're talking about the same part. These clips do not go anywhere near the rotors or brake pad. They fit right at the end of the brake pad slide and caliper.

The pad wear indicators for my pads are fitted to the backing plate. It has 4 little steel bits which wraps around past the back of the pad & about 2 mm past it. This gives you that squealing warning noise while there is still about 2mm of brake pad left.
It helps you with not getting to the grinding warning sound which means lots of money now. LOL

Thanks again.
 
#16 ·
Guys I'm having what seems to be the same issue on my 2016 Mazda6 Touring. Just bought the car used and I think the brakes were done relatively recently. I get a rattle primarily from the drivers side front that happens when going over uneven road or potholes. Doesn't happen all the time. Took the car back to the dealership and mechanic looked at the brakes and found that the little rubber rings on the brake pins were sliding around not staying in place, so he replaced the pins. Still there's the rattle, so he thinks it's the strut but I don't think it is. Also, I get a delay when I pull off the brakes when sitting at a stop light for little while. Not sure what's going on with that, but it sounds like the anti-rattle clips are the answer to the rattle because similarly I don't have the rattle when I apply a little pressure to the brakes and go over bumps. I'll let you guys know what I find out. Thanks for this forum.
 
#17 ·
Hi MazdainMiami,
As mention in my earlier post, the rattle was very frustrating, and the best part was everywhere I went to have it checked out told me all is fine with the brakes. It may be this or maybe that. I was even thinking Struts.
When the clips are fitted, you will be able to see them through the wheels. It will be on the top slider lug of the brake pad which slides in the caliper. 2 per wheel. 1 inner & 1 outer.
Should checkout other Mazda 6's brake calipers when your in carparks. Just don't get arrested. LOL Even other 6's in other Car Dealerships.

Regarding the delay with the brakes at the set of lights. It may be the brake hold. Mazda 6 has this feature which will hold the brakes until you accelerate. Mine does it mainly for hills or slight sloppy roads. Stops rolling backwards on slight & steep inclines. If it is doing all the time it be wise to get it looked into also. Could be just a sticking or lazy brake caliper.

Hope the rattle issue you are having is solved soon.
My 6 will be 10 years old this December. Bought New.
Still love driving it.

Regards
Soul Red
 
#18 ·
The pads absolutely cannot rattle in the calipers. If the caliper bolts are properly tightened, they absolutely cannot rattle either. If its a clanging type of rattle, its the backing plate, easy to bend and just as easy to bend back.
 
#19 ·
Hi Talon Tsi90,

I understand rattles can come from any part of the vehicle.

My backing plates were in perfect order. Check that too. Not bent, not loose. Not touching anything.

You say Brake Pads cannot rattle. I say its possible, Pads can rattle.
That's why Mazda supplied the clips in the Brake Pad Box.

As I understand there is a very small gap between Brake Pad and the Rotors when the brakes are not applied. So, there could also be a very small gap between the Brake Pad & the Caliper Piston. I believe when my vehicles front suspension would hit sharp bumps, or as I tested it by driving over cats eyes on the road, the pad would wobble slightly taping the piston. This would give a steely clanging rattle noise. Once you put your foot on the brake pedal ever so slightly, those gaps are closed. Therefore the rattle is gone. Just like I described in my earlier post and what MazdainMiami has mentioned his vehicle is experiencing. While trying to solve this issue, I used a very small amount of brake grease around the back of the pad where the piston would make contact, and also on the pad slide lugs. Guess what? Rattle was gone. After a few weeks it would return. So I knew I was on to something. I went through a hell of a time finding this issue. So close to spend a small fortune to replace all front suspension Bushes, Tie rod ends. Ball Joints Shocks, Strut bearing plates. So Close.
I believe when I put the Mazda supplied anti rattle clips on the pads and fitted them, it tightened the pads enough against the caliper which in turn stops the pad from its wobble and hitting the piston. No rattle.

Look. All I know for sure is I had a rattle without these in place, and once I had fit them, rattle was gone, and hasn't returned. Rattle issue was at 131,000km. I just had 190,000km Service done at the Mazda Dealer. Car is in perfect condition.
70,000km later. This car is driven 7 days a week & I haven't heard that rattle ever since the clips were fitted.

As you may already know anything is possible when is comes to motor vehicles.
Not saying this will solve the issue MazdainMiami is having.
But why not check it out? It fixed mine.

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