changnam65

Have a 2005 Five Hundred Limited. For the last month, whenever the brake pedal is depressed, there is a creaking, cracking noise coming from the front left wheel assy. I'm not that knowledgeable about brakes, and would like to have some other opinions before determing whether to take it in or try to fix it. The noise is proportional to the amount of pressure applied to the brake; ie. it stops when I stop depressing, and continues when I depress more.

360ci

Curious as to what the mileage is?

All it might need is a good pressure washing. However, it's easy enough to pull the wheel off yourself and do a visual inspection. I'd take the wheel off, remove the caliper (be sure to hang it off some wire or rest it on a pail so you don't allow it to hang freely from the brake line), and remove the rotor. Have a look down the rotor and check for any cracks, and to try to see if the rotor is warped. If there's nothing abnormal then reinstall the rotor and look at the caliper to make sure there's no heavy build up of dirt, and the pads have plenty of wear left.

If the noise persists, get a tire rotation done. An out of balance tire can cause suspension creaks and groans, but this is generally all the time, not just when you use the brakes.

__________________
'00 Durango R/T 360ci 290hp (modded); 138,500m
'06 Pontiac G6 GT 3.5L 220hp; 44,000m
'12 Chrysler 200 Limited 3.6L 283hp; 13,000m
'99 Taurus 3.0L 2V Vulcan 145hp; 154,300m - Traded
Amsoil in all vehicles!

jayslx1

I also have a creaking noise that you only hear at low speeds such as in a drive thru. It sounds like a rusty door hinge. I thought it was coming from the rear of the car but my fiance says she hears it from under the hood. Just had a rear brake job done (63,000) and used raybestos rotors & pads from rockauto. I didn't want the hastle with Fords rotors/pads. Hopefully this will be the last time the rears are touched. The mechanic advised the guide pins were bone dry and had actually polished the metal from rubbing. Still hear the noise so it could be the front guide pins I guess. Anyone have this problem?

1ATony

Welcome to the site.I would take the wheel off and looks at the pads and rotor to see if they're worn out.If the rotor has all groves on it and is not smooth,the pad's worn down and cutting into the rotor,this may be the grinding noise you hear upon braking.

We sell pad and rotor kits for a variety of vehicles,and we offer free shipping on all parts.

Here's a link to our site if you would like to poke through it.

1A Auto Parts

jayslx1

its not a grinding noise, its a groan. I've heard other vehicles do it as well at low speed. I suspect its the guide pins. The rear guide pins were completley dry so the fronts probably are as well.

jayslx1

Turns out the noise was the caliper guide pins, bone dry, and the front pads were crystallized. I've replaced all 4 rotors and pads with Raybestos Advanced Technology parts and the car stops better. Could be becasue of new pads/rotors, but hopefully won't have to have brakes for a couple of years. After the complaints I've read there is no way I would put Ford rotors or pads on the car.