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Hi,

New poster here. I have a question. My '01 Civic makes a clicking sound in the front left brake every once in a while. Normally hear it/feel it when I am almost to the end of my stop. Took the wheel off and didn't really see anything obviously loose but I am not much of a mechanic type.

Any thoughts as to what it could be?

Thanks in advance.

Tom

 
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Well, I am not exactly sure the source of your problem but here is my 2 cents to get you off to a good start.

Before assuming that it is something major you need t olook at the primary parts of the braking system, Take the wheel off and loosen the pin and swing the caliper up. (If you have never serviced or replaced brakes take it to a mechanic). Make sure that the caliper pins are well lubricated, dust boots are intacts and have lube in them. Secondly take out the pads and make sure they are clean and have meat on them.... use a depth gauge to measure them.... at this time look the the rotor as well.... Wow this is getting long.... look at all other major components... lines etc.

Look for a issues.... you may also want to look at the caliper piston.... at times if it is sticking it can cause a clicking or rubbing sound...

Anyway best of luck and keep us posted... I hope thins will assist you.

 
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does it do it going forward and in reverse

 
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is your car lowered?

after installing coilovers on mine, ive had the exact same problems and still happens til this day. idk any solutions though, sorry. my best guess would be indexing the struts... theres an DIY around here somewhere.

 
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If they're honda pads, its just the pad shifting in the clips. They don't seem to fit in perfectly. Don't worry about it.

 
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^same problem here. kinda freaks me out haha.
but your the suspension/wheel/brake/tire guru here, ill take ur word for it. but would replacing the pads with say AEM pads be a solution to this?

 
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^^^ Most aftermaket pads fit a bit tighter. That answer wasn't me talking. That was the dealer talking... mine did it too, and there wasn't anything they could do to fix it.

 
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I had some aftermarket pads installed a few weeks ago, and I had some problems. It was bad enough when the brakes stopped working as well, but when smoke started coming out of the wheel well due to them sticking, I decided that it was time to go with honda's brake pads. I'm never using different pads again unless I get new brakes completely.

 
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Pad Shift. Honda Pads Are Made To Shift Forward And Backward To Help Wear The Pads Evenly. We Put Some Grease On Both Ends Of The Pads To Quite It Down A Bit. Customers Bltch All The Time.

 
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so would it be safe to use aftermarket pads on the factory braking system? say like AEM , hawks, EBC, etc?

 
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Thanks for all the replies!

No car is not lowered. Completely stock 4DR sedan. Bought the "most expensive" pads (ceramic, i think) from Autozone. Doesn't do it constantly, just occasionally. Took the wheel off and with my mechanic buddy we didn't see anything visibly loose or broken. Seems to be only on the left side though unless I'm just not hearing the other side. Mostly notice it when almost at the end of my stop (15 m.p.h or less). Have never felt it/heard it in Reverse that I can think of.

Any of that info help you diagnose it? Think it just the pads shifting? They aren't Honda OEM pads that's for sure, but again they were like $50 @ AutoZone so they weren't cheapies.

 
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My car does this click sound as you mention, i found out it was the axle nut that came lose. Tighten it and is perfect now. Try that.

 
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i have that same issue. I find that it mostly does it after im done reversing then when i get in first and go around a turn and apply the brakes ill hear something click once. it never does it when im driving coming to a stop. just when im done reversing and start my journey in 1st

 
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I get that noise and have wondered about it myself - how many of you have ABS?

 
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Just an FYI, I had a similar noise and it was my worn out struts on the front. Replaced them and the noise is gone.

 
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i have a vp and no abs all stock wheels and suspension and that same clicking sound also happens

 
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also had loud popping noise when i would brake occasionally.... turned out to be my right control bushing rotted out...

 
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dealer says that it's the brake calipers clunking back and forth like a pendulum. that's why it does it when you stop and go.
mine might be bad tho, because it clunks about 7 times before i even make it to the street of my work parking lot...while going forward.

 
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I'm hearing mine more frequently now than I did when I originally posted this thread. Wondering if mine isn't the caliper(s) as well.

BUT what I do know is that I never ever heard it even once before I had my most recent brake job...........not Honda OEM pads either.

 
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when I took my car in the dealer said its normal and how the braking system works in our cars....

 
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well if that's the case, that sucks. it bugs me a lot for some reason.