I have checked both side of the rear of the car but it still sounds like something is scraping...metal on metal, but I cant seem to find it?!?! Can you guys give me some more ideas on where to look?

Thanks,
Powr

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Hi,

A little more info might be helpful... does it occur at a certain speed, or condition (like maybe braking)? I had a scraping noise in my GT and it turns out that the backing plate for the disk brake got bent somehow (maybe by hitting a cow or something) and when I would turn at a certain speed, there was just enough play in the bearings that the disk would rub against the backing plate. Easy to bend it away once I discovered that.

I would think brakes first; perhaps look see if something's binding.

Also look for hangy-down exhaust parts...

Yep sounds like dust shields back there or loose/bad brake hardware --more info would help out on diagnosing it..

Are your brake rotors nice and shiney or rusted? You could try lifting the rear of the car and spinning the wheels by hand, see if there are any noises or rough spots.

[This message has been edited by Ken_86gt (edited 09-04-2006).]

More info...

This becomes really aparrent at speeds over 15mph. The sound is not triggered by the brakes as it happens during regular acceleration and deceleration. I'll go out and take another look. I'll try to jack it up and spin the tires and see if I can pin point it. I thought it was the shields, but I was pretty sure I pulled it all away...again, I'll go look.

My rotors are a little on the rusty side...maybe I should just replace them as well.

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Had the same problem a while ago, when you Jack the car up see if there is any play with camber, there should be very little to none, had to replace the hub assembly cost about 60 bucks,
the nose got really loud really fast.

Id say its probably the brake dust shields. Just look under there and see if any of them look close to the back of the rotor and if so tug on them and they will bend out.

FWIW, I just saw how a locked front caliper acted on a 2001 Plymouth Breeze. Not pretty, not cheap (the owner got taken, but he was stuck, and the shop knew it), and very smelly.

86 GT, 2.8/Getrag. My rear brakes have made scraping sounds since I had the caliper recall done back in 1995. The left rear wheel also takes a lot more running torque to spin it than the right. The dealership that did it told me it's perfectly normal; not that I like that, but after putting on new e-brake cables after the caliper work, they washed their hands of it. New calipers a few years later (2000) didn't make a bit of difference. I still pull 30 mpg on the interstate at 70 mph, and no noticeable heat buildup at the wheels, so other than the scraping noise at low speeds (it goes away as soon as I hit tihe brakes), I quit worrying about it.


When bending the dust shields, be careful you don't bend them out too far, because they could end up touching somewhere else. Seems like a simple thing, but it happens.

[This message has been edited by 2birds (edited 09-04-2006).]

Just had a similar problem on mine but only in a right turn. Turns out the left rear brake hose (I have braided lines) was rubbing on either the tire or suspension during the turn. Tied it up to the strut with a ziptie and it's fine now.

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Dave E

www.ltlfrari.com

take a long ratchet extension ( or similar ) and bend the dust sheilds away from the rotor with light pressure, can be done with the wheels still on, problem solved.

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Former West Coast Fiero Employee

Well, its not the brake shields...which I was sure was going to solve the problem. I dont see anything else that could be touching it. So...I had it towed to a friends garage (ASE mechanic) and he is going to take a look at it from underneath today. I'll let you all know what he found. I'm stumped as I just dont see anything that could be rubbing...hmm...

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How are your brake pads. Could it just be simply bare pad on the rotor?

Pads were good. I ended up taking it to a shop as my wife decided I had "run out of time" to work on the car...oh well. there are only 2 people I trust to work on my Fiero...me and my mechanic Jeff. Anyway it turned out to be the caliper that was bound...just a little bit. He got that fixed and the car is running just fine. Now he is going to work on getting my AC to blow cold today.

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powrmajik, Could you explain what he meant by bound--got a 86 that does this now & again--doesn`t get driven much, did he mean sticking/hanging up ? Thanks.....

Yes, the caliper was stuck partially closed, he popped it back into place and it is running just fine. From what he said, my understanding of it anyway, was that it was simply stuck a little, like it got hung up partially closed. He slipped a screw driver in there and popped it back. He has been driving it since yesterday and took it home with him lastnight, no problems at all. I just spoke to him and my A/C will be getting fixed today...Woo Hoo!!

Thanks...so it was the caliper piston that was hung up/partially closed ? I`ll give the screwdriver thing a try tonight..
Edit: I just noticed you live in Florida --I`ll bet you are excited about getting the a/c working again...

[This message has been edited by 3800superfast (edited 09-06-2006).]

Oh yeah...you bet I am! These cars get well over 100 degrees inside during the day...and unless you are near a window or somewhere where you can see your car you dont want to leave the windows down too long....one second it rains and the next its scorching hot outside in the full sun!

A/C was fixed....blowing icy cold now!

quote Originally posted by 3800superfast: Thanks...so it was the caliper piston that was hung up/partially closed ? I`ll give the screwdriver thing a try tonight.. Edit: I just noticed you live in Florida --I`ll bet you are excited about getting the a/c working again...

If the calipers are old the grease in the slider pins will get gummy. Taking the calipers off, removing the slider pins, replacing the o-rings and reinstalling good quality disk brake grease will get them moving freely again.