Weird metal grinding noise when driving away Topic is solved

Post by **Ocelot** » 06 Apr 2020, 09:48

Hey guys, I have a question about my Volvo S70 from 1998. It has a manual transmission and is equipped with the B5252FS engine.

Whats going on?
This one has been bothering me for quite some time because I just don't know where to look for a culprit. Here's the thing. When I go to work in the morning (engine is cold, cas hasn't been used for at least 12 hours) and drive away, there's this loud and grinding noise coming from the front (driversside) of the car. IThe sound only appears after the car hasn't been used for at least 12 hours, with a cold engine, when slowly driving away. After one or two stop&go's, its gone and the sound isn't noticeable anymore.

What did I do to fix it myself?
1. I completely renewed the brakes of the front of the car, including rotors, pads and calipers. The calipers weren't stuck, but they did fail the yearly inspection because of rust on the pistons inside of the caliper. The old brake rotors and pads were just worn.

2. I searched the MVS database, YouTube (Robert diy) and many other channels (FCPeuro, IPD) but I just can't find anyone with a Volvo S70/V70 that makes the noise mine S70 makes. I think it doesn't sound like a stuck caliper, or a bad wheelbearring (because those sounds that they maken you can actually find on YT and other databases).

So... what now?
After renewing the brakesystem I thought it was fixed. But the sound remains. Some people adviced me to check the rear brakes (especially the parking brake) whether its functioning okay and if it needs adjustment. That's already done by a local Volvo dealer.

I think I captured it this morning on my dashcam, I'll put it in this thread this evening or tomorrow. I hope you guys can help this Dutchie out

If I forgot to mention something, let me know, I'll try to be as clear as I can (remember, English isn't my native language

)

Post by **scot850** » 06 Apr 2020, 11:30

Did you check the simple stuff like the front brake dust shields not rubbing on the rotors? They can easily get bumped during brake replacement and rub against the rotor. A gentle bending back is all that is usually needed. Was the problem there before the brakes were worked on?

Other issue is I note you have a manual transmission. It could be the clutch bearing is noisy until the car warms up?

Neil.

Post by **Ocelot** » 06 Apr 2020, 13:47

Thanks Scot! I will check the dust shields if they're interfering with the rotors. I was thinking about the clutch bearing, but then I thought: wouldn't it always make noise when engaging the clutch (driving away) if the bearing would be bad/broken? It only does it on the first (or two) stop & go's, after that it's totally quiet.

Edit: if you click the link you can check out the noise I'm talking about. Go to 0:20 till 0:30 to check out the noise, the rest of the clip is me ruining a Coldplay song

For some reason when I upload dashcam clips from the SD-card to Youtube, it doens't sync up the audio with the video properly. So in the clip it would seem that the noise just randomly appears, but it only happens when I'm driving away in first gear. I did also mis that it makes the sound when I'm reversing, only fainter. I'm curious what you guys think of this!

Post by **abscate** » 06 Apr 2020, 14:33

Have a look at the caliper slide pins and make sure the calipers arent getting stuck.

If you used rebuilt calipers - some come with mild steel pins which rust, or develop

Meervoudigepersoonlijkheidsstoornis

(My favorite Dutch word)

Thread on this here...

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=90075&p=518422&hili ... ns#p518422

Post by **scot850** » 06 Apr 2020, 16:41

Are you 100% sure it is from the front of the car? That sounds more like possibly the rear parking brakes. Shoes can de-laminate and stick. Cables can also rust and cause some binding of the parking brakes until the car moves.

Neil.

Post by **Ocelot** » 07 Apr 2020, 01:09

abscate wrote: ↑06 Apr 2020, 14:33 Have a look at the caliper slide pins and make sure the calipers arent getting stuck.

If you used rebuilt calipers - some come with mild steel pins which rust, or develop

Meervoudigepersoonlijkheidsstoornis

(My favorite Dutch word)

Thread on this here...

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=90075&p=518422&hili ... ns#p518422

Thanks Abscate! I bought two calipers from TRW and funny enough they both have the Volvo logo on the calipers. Didn't expect that. They look new and not rebuild ones, but nonetheless I'm gonna check it out.

My favorite Dutch word: oscillococcinum. Thats a drug, but then again, it took me 24 years for me to get it right.

scot850 wrote: ↑06 Apr 2020, 16:41 Are you 100% sure it is from the front of the car? That sounds more like possibly the rear parking brakes. Shoes can de-laminate and stick. Cables can also rust and cause some binding of the parking brakes until the car moves.

Neil.

Well, the local Volvo garage said they adjusted the parking brake but I'm gonna check it out myself. I have a Haynes at home about the V/S70, but can you give me some pointers on how to check/adjust in the most productive way?

Post by **abscate** » 07 Apr 2020, 04:16

Good pictures in this thread...

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=86189

It’s hard to get a good view of the shoes without removing the brake disc / rotor, but you can see the adjuster mechanism. You peer through a hole in the face of the rotor and turn the star wheel to tighten the parking brakes.

The star wheel is a right hand thread on both wheels, so prying the teeth UP lengthens the rod and this tightens thebrakes.

Tighten until it is hard to move, then back off 2-3 clicks

You often have to move it down 5-6 clicks to get the rotor/ drum off

Post by **scot850** » 07 Apr 2020, 10:34

Abscate got half of the adjustment correct. The part he forgot is you can also adjust the parking brake lever to give 4-6 'clicks' to pull the shoes fully on. Do this AFTER adjusting the parking brakes at the rear wheel FIRST.

The parking brake lever is adjusted buy opening the lid on the center console. At the front of the storage bin you will see a cut-out with a small slot in it. Use a flat ended screwdriver and carefully prise it up. Under there you will see a bolt with a T40 (?) Torx head. Turning clockwise tightens the cables, and counter-clockwise loosens the cables. If you don't have a T40 Torx bit, then try a pair of large pliers to turn it. Only adjust with the parking brake lever in the OFF position. As your car is a manual transmission, either put the car in gear to stop it moving, and also put something infront/behind a couple of wheels to stop the car running away!!

Abscate is 100% correct in that you cannot tell the condition of the parking brake shoes without removing the rear rotors.

Good Luck

Cees Klumper · Post by **Cees Klumper** » 09 Apr 2020, 06:25

I would also check the parking brake shoes. On our S80, last year I found the brake material had separated from the metal backing, in pieces, so I had to fit new parts. From the work you did on the front brakes, it seems very unlikely that that is where the problem lies. Succes ermee.

Post by **Ocelot** » 09 Apr 2020, 08:29

Thanks Cees! Fyi: the rear brakes got an overhaul too, that was in october 2019. That includes the rotors, pads, one caliper and the shoes for the parking brake. Too bad the local Volvo dealer is booked till 17th of April. I'm beginning to think that it is indeed the parking brake that needs some looking into. Yesterday I took the S70 for a cruise and when I backed out of my driveway, I could hear the sound very faintly, but only when driving in reverse. Maybe they overlooked something when adjusting the parking brake. I'll keep you guys updated!