What Are the Signs of caliper hitting the rim?

doga501 · Post by **doga501** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:32 pm

Just installed new 14 inch tires with steel rims
The rims where already on the tires and the bolt pattern is the same so I just installed them.
How would I know if the caliper is hitting the rim would I hear a contious hitting sound when I drive would breaks lock up?
I drove the car didn’t hear much
Thanx

asc_up · Post by **asc_up** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:38 pm

First off, you'd probably have trouble getting the rim to actually bolt onto the hub. If it was touching, you'd definitely hear it squealing.

You could also pull off the wheel after a few days of use and check to see if there are any signs of wear on the inside of the rim and/or caliper.

doga501 · Post by **doga501** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:47 pm

Aaron
Thank you so much for your quick reply
I didn’t notice any issues when I installed the rim
Seemed fine
I’ll hear the squealing every time I break or every time the rim hits the caliper?
Is it safe to drive like this for few days and then look?
Thanx Again

asc_up · Post by **asc_up** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:58 pm

If it's hitting, you'll hear the noise all the time. Our cars have a fixed caliper, therefore the caliper is always in the same spot and never moves. You could always jack up a corner of the car, put it in neutral and try rotating the wheel. If you can feel a noticeable amount of resistance or can hear a rubbing noise, then the caliper is hitting.

Post by **Legacy777** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:36 pm

asc_up wrote:If it's hitting, you'll hear the noise all the time. Our cars have a fixed caliper, therefore the caliper is always in the same spot and never moves. You could always jack up a corner of the car, put it in neutral and try rotating the wheel. If you can feel a noticeable amount of resistance or can hear a rubbing noise, then the caliper is hitting.

Our cars do not have a fixed caliper. They are a floating caliper.

It is possible to get some flex in the caliper when you brake which could cause it to rub, but as mentioned you would have noticed it being close when you installed the wheel.

asc_up · Post by **asc_up** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:52 pm

Legacy777 wrote:
Our cars do not have a fixed caliper. They are a floating caliper.

.

Oh shoot. Really? I just assumed they were fixed, but I guess that would explain why people upgrade to WRX or STi brake setups, too.

doga501 · Post by **doga501** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:07 pm

Legacy777 wrote:
asc_up wrote:If it's hitting, you'll hear the noise all the time. Our cars have a fixed caliper, therefore the caliper is always in the same spot and never moves. You could always jack up a corner of the car, put it in neutral and try rotating the wheel. If you can feel a noticeable amount of resistance or can hear a rubbing noise, then the caliper is hitting.
Our cars do not have a fixed caliper. They are a floating caliper.

It is possible to get some flex in the caliper when you brake which could cause it to rub, but as mentioned you would have noticed it being close when you installed the wheel.

Aaron Josh Thank you so much for your quick replies
Just installed all 4 tires
I turned the tire after installing didn’t really hear anything
I put a flash light behind the tire and the light was shinning through the very little space btw the caliper and the rim
So Josh you are saying that the caliper might be flexing while I’m breaking and at the point the rim could touch the caliper?
Would I hear a hitting noise or squealing noise?
Is it safe to drive like this would there be an issue with the break performance?
Thanx Again

asc_up · Post by **asc_up** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:23 pm

You'll be fine to drive it. From what it sounds like, the caliper is NOT hitting the rim.

doga501 · Post by **doga501** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 3:30 am

Aaron Josh
I drove the car for a while I don’t hear anything when I drive
Only think I can point out is that I think the calipers touch when I break hard, but when I step on gas car doesn’t seem to have any issues.
So maybe they really are flexing while breaking
Do you think this is a major issue?
Thanx

ericem · Post by **ericem** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 3:34 am

What car do you have? Is it turbo or non turbo?

skid542 · Post by **skid542** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 4:14 am

Simplest solution - just pull the rim off one of the sides that sounds like it's squealing. If it's rubbing it will be distinctly noticable on both the rim and caliper. Takes all of 5 minutes and will provide a better answer than any guessing what noises are what noises.

Further, and merely for the sake of prosperity - WRX calipers are floating calipers too unless you get 4-pots. There's nothing particularly wrong with a proper floating caliper. People upgrade to the 4-pots and Brembos not for better stopping power but better brake feel (which can translate into shorter stopping depending on the driver).

asc_up · Post by **asc_up** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 4:18 am

skid542 wrote:Further, and merely for the sake of prosperity - WRX calipers are floating calipers too unless you get 4-pots.

Right. I was referring to the 4-pots.

SILINC3R · Post by **SILINC3R** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 4:52 am

also check your rotors for rubbing. when i put WRC conversion all around i noticed a really nasty squelling noise and come to find out my dust shield had been bent just enough to cut into the rotor producing the sound. if this is the case it would be easy to see cause it would score the rotor.

Post by **Legacy777** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 4:42 pm

Yeah....as mentioned, just pull the wheels off and check for rubbing.

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What Are the Signs of caliper hitting the rim?

What Are the Signs of caliper hitting the rim?