Buying an IS200 Sport
Buying an IS200 Sport
Hi all,
My brother is looking at buying an IS200 Sport.
We had a look at one today and he really likes it. However, there is something that concerns me.
On the test drive I noticed a squealing noise coming from rear drivers side brake. The noise started as soon as the car was moving and is audible until around 40mph - the noise may still be there, but drowned out by other noises. The noise stops under braking and the brake disc is not excessively worn.
There maybe a simple fix for squealing noise, such as re-greasing the pads, but I concered there maybe a bigger issue, such as sticky caliper.
Any ideas on what it could be or what I should be looking for?
hhmmm i would say it needs new pads, as they do have a "squealing" plate in place, its to let you know when pads need replaceing.
Why would the pad be squealing as if it was low if the brakes weren't on though ? Doesn't that only happen if you're actually applying the brakes ? (I could of course be wrong).
Maybe it indicates a sticky caliper and low brake pads ?
After a drive you could try feeling the caliper in question to feel if it is unusually warm. Be careful not to burn your hand though !
I had the EXACT same problem with my car !!
It started off quite, and squealing every once in a while, and then it got lauder and happened all the time. My squeal would come in at around 20Mph, and then just as you described, the faster you drove, it you could hear it slightly, but would be drowned out by road noise.
I tried everything. Driving very fast (at night on a motorway), pulling the hand brake up when driving, slamming on the brakes, driving with the brakes on, but nothing.
When my car went into Lexus for a service, I told them about the rear brake problem, and they said they would have a look. They took the brake off and saw loads of pad and disc left, so put it back together and said they know there is a sound, but can’t see what it was. They offered to replace the discs and pad, but I didn’t want to pay for something I didn’t need.
I then took my car to a garage the family have always used, and this guy has worked and repaired all of my old cars. He too, took the brake apart and even the drum where the handbrake lives, and confirmed there was nothing wrong with the brakes, they still had lots of life in them. Even when he put everything back together, he thought it might have been a small part of the calliper (like a corner) that was rubbing on the disc, and suggested to replace the brakes and pads and see if that should cure the squeal.
Again, I wasn’t up for replacing something that didn’t need replacing, but then the squeal soon stopped, and I’ve heard nothing since. I took the car back to my garage for him to have another look, and he still said there is nothing wrong with the brakes.
It must have been one of those gremlins that come and go, but with no lasting problems other than causing embarrassing scenes when driving past people.
In total the squealing lasted less than 3 months.
If I was you, I would checks the brakes over, by doing what I did. Sharp braking, and really testing out the hand brake. If these seem and feel fine, the car is most probable fine, but this could be a good thing for you, as you might be able to knock down the price of what the owner is asking for and claim you have to get the brakes fixed. Then try waiting and see if they fix themselves, or use the money you saved and replace the pads and discs.