1980 Corvette brake noise.

[Don I.]

I need your advice and thoughts. 1980 Corvette while going down the road I hear from the right rear brake area like something scrapping as the rotor is turning. As the brakes are applied it gets louder and goes away before full stop. I removed the wheel and found that at one time the rotor was removed because someone had drilled out the rivots. Parking brake seems okay. I couldn't see anything strange nor did I take it all apart. How important is it to screw the rotor back to the hub? Any danger if I leave it alone? Wouldn't the wheel hold it tight? What was the reason for Chevrolet to do this? Any ideas? Thanks, Don.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1980 Corvette brake noise.

I need your advice and thoughts. 1980 Corvette while going down the road I hear from the right rear brake area like something scrapping as the rotor is turning. As the brakes are applied it gets louder and goes away before full stop. I removed the wheel and found that at one time the rotor was removed because someone had drilled out the rivots. Parking brake seems okay. I couldn't see anything strange nor did I take it all apart. How important is it to screw the rotor back to the hub? Any danger if I leave it alone? Wouldn't the wheel hold it tight? What was the reason for Chevrolet to do this? Any ideas? Thanks, Don.

Don-------


I don't think that the fact the rotor was at one time removed from the spindle has anything to do with the noise you're experiencing.

As far as re-fastening the rotor to the spindle, it's not critical, at all. In fact, at one time GM even advised that the rotor rivets could be drilled out and the wheel lug nuts would thereafter be sufficient to retain the rotor. Personally, I prefer that the rotor be fastened to the spindle with rivets or screws but it's really not critical, at least from any sort of safety standpoint.

However, since the rotor has been once removed, I would want to be sure that the runout on the rotor is within acceptable limits. To measure this you need a dial indicator and stand. The procedure is covered in the Corvette Shop Manual.

[Don I.]

Re: 1980 Corvette brake noise.

Thanks Joe. Where can I buy one of these run out dials? Let's say that the run out is off. What does it do to the car when driving it? I bought this car a month ago and the seller doesn't know who did the work.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1980 Corvette brake noise.

Thanks Joe. Where can I buy one of these run out dials? Let's say that the run out is off. What does it do to the car when driving it? I bought this car a month ago and the seller doesn't know who did the work.

Don------


You can get an inexpensive one at Harbor Freight. It will be adequate for this job.

The end result of excessive runout on the rotors is a phenomenon called "air pumping" which causes air to be drawn into the hydraulic brake system and the resultant "spongy" brakes and loss of brake pedal.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1980 Corvette brake noise.

Check the wear indicators on the brake pads. My wife's Saturn has poorly made brake pad vibration dampers (even though original production parts) and they scrape all the time.
I realize 1980s don't have the same exact parts but I would look for something like that.

My other thought is the emergency brake parts.

[Don I.]

Re: 1980 Corvette brake noise.

I do not have any of those symptoms while driving. It looks like the job was done awhile ago. Looks like a new spindle was installed at one time. Should I worry if things are fine other than the squealing I'm hearing? Maybe chips of metal behind the rotors?