Automatics: Who's had a brand new one?

TrickyWicky

We've had 4 automatics over the years. All great cars and i personally think automatics are great.

What irks me though is the brake noises you get from them - either when slowly creeping forward or applying the brakes at a slow speed - you get a bit of a mild groan sound.

Now I'm sure that brand new autos don't do this. So whats the secret? They're obviously not oiling the brake discs so how on earth are the brakes on newer autos so totally quiet?

Or am I imagining it?

facade

Some autos drop out of gear when they stop with your foot on the brake so they wont be creeping forwards groaning.

You shouldn't hold them on the footbrake, (like I and everyone else do) as this deposits brake pad material on the disc, and can then cause wobble under braking on cars that are sensitive to it.

I find a bit of ferocious braking cleans my discs up nicely, and gets rid of the wobble until the next time I hold it on the footbrake, and then let it creep forwards groaning away

colino

They only make a noise, at any age, if your not applying enough force to keep the wheel completely still. The groaning is the disc very slowly slipping through the pads, nothing wrong and no fault.

gilbert_and_sullivan

You need new discs and pads, probably only at the front but don't disregard the rears.

The brakes get a bit noisy at gentle crawl control when they get worn and develop a wear ridge, replace with new and they will be back to silent.

Obviously the noise can be heard and felt on a proper petrol engined auto, those with tractor engines, especially Mondeos, wouldn't be able to hear or feel the brakes over the clatter/vibration of the engine even if they were metal to metal...;)

Gloomendoom

I've several brand new automatics. None have ever had noisy brakes. Not even the Rovers.

worried_jim

No noise on my Saab 93. My third auto and I love them.

TrickyWicky

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I've several brand new automatics. None have ever had noisy brakes. Not even the Rovers.

This is what I'm talking about people. What is the difference? New cars off the forecourt don't make the same noise as older ones which moan and groan. Change the discs and pads and you get the high pitched squeel too. So how to the manufacturers do it?

Gloomendoom

TrickyWicky wrote: »

This is what I'm talking about people. What is the difference? New cars off the forecourt don't make the same noise as older ones which moan and groan. Change the discs and pads and you get the high pitched squeel too. So how to the manufacturers do it?

Carefully matching pad and disc material?

jaymidlands

cheap pads and discs make this happen even on manual gearbox cars

Weird_Nev

It's just the pads groaning against the discs as said. That's what happens when friction material meets metal plate.

I'll wager that brand new cars don't do it because they haven't yet had a chance to put a proper layer of friction material onto the discs - they're still bare metal. Once you've used them and put them through several proper heat cycles, you end up with a thin coating of the friction material on the disc face, which improves braking performance but will make them groan a bit.

Just don't let the car creep forwards on the brakes. Once you've stopped, put it into neutral and put the handbrake on.

InsideInsurance

Mine dont moan but then the car doesnt creep forward after I've braked because the Hold function holds it in place (kind of like its supposed to)