"Clunking" sound

[richmills]

Hi all, I've noticed a definite clunking sound coming from what sounds and feels like the wheels when I pull away for the first time after leaving the car to stand for several days. Along with this sound there's a definite small amount of resistance I can feel; it's almost as if the wheels or brakes have slightly seized. This only happens after the NSX has been sitting unused for several days (Sunday - Friday typically), if I use it day after day there's absolutely no hint of this at all. Other than this initial "clunk" it's all as smooth as I could wish for. I wondered if it was something to do with leaving the handbreak on for almost a week, so last week I left the handbreak off and just left it in gear, but exactly the same sound when I pulled away this evening. Has anyone experienced anything similar? Does it sounds like something I should worry about? Cheers, Rich.

[AR]

Yes mate is the brakes sticking particularly if it is wet outside. I normally just leave it in gear as my parking is flat and don't use the handbrake.

Cheers,

AR

[simonprelude]

So do I :)


Yes mate is the brakes sticking particularly if it is wet outside. I normally just leave it in gear as my parking is flat and don't use the handbrake.

[reg]

Does it sounds like something I should worry about? Cheers, Rich.

Don't want to harp...but the handbrake is an evil device. The pads are porous and when it is wet they absorb moisture. They act like a wet sponge pressed against the disc and if left will cause it to rust and ultimately bond as there are metal fragments in the pad material. The noise is the disc breaking the rusted adhesion to the disc.

I killed a set of discs before as I used to leave my car for long periods outside. Now I rarely use the handbrake. One other thing is remember to never use the handbrake after a heavy session. The heat in the disc transmits through the pads to the caliper and onto the fluid.

IIRC Porsche has all sorts of sh*te last year and actually issued a service thing that told owners not to apply the handbrake after driving in the wet.

[richmills]

Don't want to harp...but the handbrake is an evil device. The pads are porous and when it is wet they absorb moisture. They act like a wet sponge pressed against the disc and if left will cause it to rust and ultimately bond as there are metal fragments in the pad material. The noise is the disc breaking the rusted adhesion to the disc.

Thanks for the suggestions about not using the handbreak guys, I'll definitely be just leaving it in gear from now on. Although as I say, I did get a similar sound last night after pulling away even though it had been just left in gear for the previous 5 days. Certainly sounds like it's the brakes rusting to the disc, hopefully it'll improve soon along with the weather. Cheers, Rich.

[mutley]

I agree with all of the above that you will get a bit of a clunk hen it's been sitting a little while, I think pretty much all cars are like that if they have been sitting a while and especially if the weather haas been a tad on the damp side. If it's happening a bit too frequently, how about changing your rear pads, I don't know how old your rear brakes are or in what condition, but that might help ease it a bit. (Although I'd probably go for the leave-in-gear solution too)

Jim

[NSXGB]

Never had this problem myself. I leave the car sometimes 2 weeks between driving, handbrake on, wet in the garage.

[NSX 2000]

Never had this problem myself. I leave the car sometimes 2 weeks between driving, handbrake on, wet in the garage.


The sticking pads and discs will all depend on what pad and disc combo you have. We never had any problem with the wife's TT but with my Impreza I had some really bad problems! Including once the car just would not move they were so stuck together! On the NSX it has ocurred a only a few times.

[NSXGB]

AFAIK I have a full OEM setup.

[blue5]

I agree, its just the brake pads sticking.

It happened all the time when i washed the car and didnt drive it for a few days/weeks.

Nothing to worry about.

[rkanaga]

I agree with the stuff about not using the handbrake (I once killed the calipers on my old Citroen AX by leaving it with the handbrake on for a few months - doh!)

But also remeber that the pads float very close to the discs all the time so even with the handbrake off if you leave it for a long time rust can build up and stick to the pads (and at the least you will experience a light grinding noise when you first run it again which is the rust being worn off the discs). One solution (not very practical I know) is never to leave it idle for a long time if you have just driven it it wet weather. Porsche Boxsters have a real issue with this and lots of people have been stung for new discs or skimming after wrecking them; it doesn't sound like the NSX is anything like as bad in this respect.

(The real solution is to use your NSX everyday! Cars need driving!)