Hello everyone-

I'm having some weird noises coming from what I'm 99% sure is the front calipers. According to the service records, the front calipers were replaced in '96. Upon further inspection while bleeding the brakes, it looks as if low-quality calipers were used.

The driver's side caliper was damaged in the bleeding process, so my mechanic quick-fixed it with a caliper from the pick-n-pull. The passenger side caliper is now making strange sounds, and the fluid in the resorvoir has gone down a little since the bleed. I think I'm gonna play it safe and replace both front calipers.

What is a good price for a couple of good re-builds? The pistons tend to stick a little bit in the passenger side caliper, so I'm hoping this will solve my noise/sticking problem once and for all. The pads have about 80% wear left. Any advice from anyone who has done this job would be appreciated. Thanks!!

Could you go into a bit more detail as to what a "strange noise" is?

I get a kind of groaning noise from the fronts some times, but most of the stuff has less than 10K, and I know this cause I did it all myself.

When you get a groaning noise, are the brakes hot? After I do a few stops from 50+mph my front brakes will make a loud groaning noise just as I come to a stop (moving very slowly). It doesn't happen to me that often, but it has been happening for at least a few months. It seems like the brakes have to be really hot to make noise. Any ideas?

Michael,

I have more or less the same situation, my mothers 940 will do it too. From about 30-0 is when the noise shows up. I never hear it when they are cold. It will happen after a long high-speed stint or some hard stop-and-go driving.

What kind of rotors/pads do you have?

I've had my car for just over a year, and about 10K miles, and I haven't done anything to the brakes yet, so I don't know what's on the car. I've had the brakes checked a couple of times while I was having other work done, and each time they said the brakes were fine (no mention of how much pad was left) so I guess I shouldn't be too concerned with the groaning noise. When I need to replace the front rotors and pads, I'll probably get the ATE grooved rotors and Volvo pads.

OK, I am not going to worry about the noise if you dont. My brakes never feel as if they are fading or slipping, so it cant be that important.

Well, here goes-

First off, I got a caliper from the pick-n-pull off of a '84 wagon that's been sitting for two years. It will get me by for now, but it's just a temporary fix. The passenger front on the other hand, is a mystery. I've had the car for about two years, and it's made funny noises in that area ever since I've had it.

I had a bad tie-rod end on that side, that made for some weird knocking sounds, had that fixed. One of the nuts that hold the strut in place was loose, and that made for an interesting popping and knocking sound. When I drive initially in the morning, there's a groaning sound that comes from that wheel that goes away after a few seconds of driving. During this time, it tends to slightly pull in that direction sometimes. There is now some knocking that accompanies the groaning sound. Probably unrelated, but am getting that checked out. All these sounds happen in the first 10-30 seconds of driving, then disappear. Sometimes, I can hear what sounds like the warning tabs of brake pads, but it mysteriously goes away after a few seconds. Right before I come to a complete stop, I'm starting to get a noise that sounds like the calipers are grinding. I know for a FACT that the pads are fine. It's gotta be the shitty replacement calipers that the previous owners saved a couple of bucks on.

I was quoted right around $63 each, with exchange, for rebuilt calipers with pads. This was for a 90, so I don't know if you need the same ones or not. This was at Foreign Autopart, advertised as 38 stores serving the northeast. I have dealt with the local store for over 20 years, and am of the opinion that they are reputable.