popping noise when braking, here we go...

[hustle_kaing]

Just went for a little drive about an hour ago, I installed a micro filter catch can earlier today so I wanted to make sure that everything was ok with the car. I've been hearing my front brakes squeaking, I guess I need new pads, sometimes they squeak sometimes they dont. Anyways, drove around for 10 mins on the freeway, car ran good, then on my way home driving on the street, I noticed a popping/clicking noise when braking. Only popped/clicked when close to coming to a stop, only when speed was less than aprox. 10-15mph. Does not make any popping/clicking nosie when braking at speeds 15mph or higher. Ill jack it up tomorrow when I get home after work to take a look at it, hopefully nothing is broken. Its an '03 with 43k. Give me your .02 cents! thanks!

[speedracer]

I will let others who know more offer thier oppinions. I have herd similar noises at very low speeds. It turned out to be a bad wheel bearing.

[Coop]

Moved to The XViper's Den where you are likely to get an answer quicker.

my $0.02 is to check the calipers and all the bolts to be sure everything is tight

[repiv]

Check for pad thickness. The squeak you hear may be the pad wear indicator. If they are down to the rivets, they won't grab uniformly and may also be more prone to shifting.
Check the rotors for any deep scoring. This may also be an indication of pads too thin (rivets touching).
Is the sound strickly associated with the use of the brakes or can you duplicate the sound by just coasting to a stop (no brake use)?
When was the last brake job? The caliper pins may be seized and the not permitting the caliper to move freely as the pads are squeezed.

[SpitfireS]

http://inlinethumb64.webshots.com/14975/2045641400102826257S600x600Q85.jpg
I'm not sure but I don't think the OEM pads have rivets, like a clutch disk does is what I mean.
Rivets that go through-and-through.
You can see the wear indicator on an OEM front pad in the pic.
Does the OP have slotted rotors?
The wear indicator could catch a slot or also catch a groove - like XV allready mentioned.

In the pic you can also see an indentation in the backing plate.
I believe they use that to give the pad material something to hold on to as I believe they are "glued" or maybe volcanised onto the steel backing plate.
The depth of the indentation looks to be almost the same as the lenght of the wear indicator sticking out - IOW, depending on how the pad is worn, you could reach the indentation - or in that case the detent (had to look that up - the opposite of indent) - on one end of the pad before reaching the wear indicator on the other end.
I hope it all still makes sence.

In short: check pad thickness ;)

:yo:

[repiv]

In the pic you can also see an indentation in the backing plate.
I believe they use that to give the pad material something to hold on to as I believe they are "glued" or maybe volcanised onto the steel backing plate.
You are right about the "rivets". I doubt there are any on our pads. I use the phrase, "down to the rivets" as a slang term for something getting really thin. If his pads are that thin, it may be using the backing material for the friction material during braking or at the very least, if he's that close to the interface between the two, it may not act in the normal way.

As you said ..................... "In short: check pad thickness"

[hustle_kaing]

Seems like it is (or was) strictly associated with the use of brakes, no noise when coasting without pressing on brakes. Dont know when the last brake job was done, I just bought the car about 3 1/2 weeks ago. I looked at the brakes about 1 1/2 weeks ago when the brakes started squeaking, they didnt seem "down the the rivets"/ down to the wear indicators so I just re-greased them and the squeaking went away for 3-4 days then came back, squeaks on and off. Ill check all pads tomorrow again. Well today I got home and took off the front right wheel (thats where the noised seemed to come from) and everything looked ok, tried to shake/move the rotor and caliper and neither felt loose, pulled and pushed on other suspension parts and nothing moved (I know the pressure / force thats put on the suspension when the car is braking is a lot more than what my arms can give but just tried it anyways :o ), then took off the caliper and pads seemed fine, did not notice any abnormal wear on the either side of the rotor. So then I was like "Man, screw this, Im just gonna take it to the dealer!" :mad: Called some Houston dealerships, Diagnosis prices: Gillman Honda $105 (I think), John Eagle Honda $70ish, Russell & Smith Honda $50 ish. So then I put everything back together and went for a test drive and I didnt feel / hear any popping or clicking!!!! :think: Car is back to normal at least for now... If problem comes back Ill take it to Russell & Smith on friday, buy the part and fix it myself. I would prefer to take it to Gillman since it seems like they deal with s2000's more often than Russell & Smith but it costs twice as much :thumbdown:... Thanks for moving the thread Coop! Now I know where to post next time.

[repiv]

I just bought the car about 3 1/2 weeks ago.
Who knows if you even have the right pads in there. They may be aftermarket performance pads. They might not even be specific for an S2000. The type of material can have a lot to do with whether or not they make any noise when in use. If they aren't quite right for an S2000, they can shift and make the clicks you hear.
Taking them apart and putting them back together may have altered the way the parts go together just enough that they now stop making any noise. This is likely just temporary. Also, if a previous owner did brake work, he could have installed something incorrectly or even left something out. Once you put on known OEM parts, done by someone who knows what to do, you will then be more assured that things are the way they should be. If the noise persists then, you can begin to suspect something else going on.
Good luck.

[speedracer]

At the track. I have the brakes pop when I hit them hard. I think it is a shift in the pads. Your pads look OEM but if they are aftermarket/track pads then they can squeek.

If you are in Houston then go see Curt at C&C northside motors. He works on many S2000's.

[SpitfireS]

Does it pop more than once per brake application?
As in: pop ...pop .....pop (stopped)
:D
Or does it pop once when starting to brake?

Try this: drive forwards (slowly) and brake to a stop.
Then drive backwards and brake to a stop.
Do you hear the pop? = shifting pads, kinda normal.

Aftermarket pads can squeeeeeeek like pigs.
Thats part of the fun.

Its worth it, as mentioned, to find out if you have proper pads for the S2000.
Them being aftermarket doesn't mean they won't fit.

Did the pads have the thin shims on them?
2 on the inner pad touching the piston and 1 on the outer pad.
One of the inner ones is a shiny one.
If they did the pads are most likely OEM's.

Did the calipers have the thin metal clips where the pads "ears" move in?
Where they clean?
Debris and "burned" paint from the pads can build up there making it hard for the pads to move.

Is this still :twocents: ?

[hustle_kaing]

The popping hasnt come back, but when it was popping, it was doing the pop... pop.. pop.. stopped. Im assuming that if it was the pads shifting then it would just pop once, so I dont think it was a pad shift pop. It sounded like if something was "attached" to the rotor and the thing attached would hit something else and make the pop.. pop.. pop.. as it was turning along with the rotor.
I looked at the pads today and they are honda pads, says honda zinsi or something like that on the back of the pad.
The calipers have the metal clips, they were fairly clean, just a little dusty.
Theres about 1/8 of an inch before it wears down the wear indicator.
No slotted rotors, at least not yet.
One question, are the brake pads they sell at Autozone, Advance, etc as good as OEM pads? Dont really know what brands they have at these places though, just curious... I've read most people stick to OEM unless theyre using performance ones like Hawks, etc. I dont track my car, just a daily driver with a little spirited driving once in a while.

[repiv]

Are there any odd looking patterns on the rotors. It's almost as if something was spilled onto the brake pads and rotors to make it impossible for the pads to grab the rotors smoothly. It sounds like the pads can't get a uniform or consistent amount of friction on the rotor. Is there some possibility that some brake fluid or other solvent got spilled onto the pads or rotor? Can you isolate the popping to one side or the other or do you think it comes from both sides?