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M3 Parking Brake makes loud sound when sitting all night [Update: normal if parked and rotors wet]
- Thread starter ultimate_99
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CharleyBC
Active Member
I have not experienced that. Is it cold enough in Syracuse that it’s below freezing in your garage? And has it been wet? I’m wondering about ice forming in the brakes overnight and having to break loose. Pure guess.
WilliamG
Hinge Fanatic
Normal. It’s the brakes sticking due to the frozen moisture (and/or actually surface/non-harmful rusting occurs - you can see sometimes how your rotors can look brownish, - which clears when you drive away and use the friction brakes). Anyway this just needs to break loose when you start driving. The sound can be quite startling, but this isn’t unique to Teslas.
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Yeah, it happens sometimes when the pad sticks to the rotor. Its not Tesla specific, and not really a big deal.
Akikiki
A'-Lo-HA ! y'all
I second or I guess third agree with WilliamG and ZOMGVTEK, very common when the pads have set up against the rotors. There a little oxidation that that quickly occurs too. We notice it after we've washed the car/wheels and start to pull off to start at least a couple of hours later. Not Tesla unique like stated already.
Msjulie
Active Member
Mine even did it the other day, 50s in the garage all night but the car had been out all day in the rain so the mildest of rust formed kinda 'gluing' the pads and rotor together. It unstuck instantly with a small noise and all done...
Thanks for the replies and reassurance that this is NOT a problem!
So as I suspected, when park is depressed, there is an electric hydraulic pump that pressurizes the rear break pads? And when park is depressed longer it pressurizes at a higher pressure?
So as I suspected, when park is depressed, there is an electric hydraulic pump that pressurizes the rear break pads? And when park is depressed longer it pressurizes at a higher pressure?
Yeah, don't wash your car and then park it what ever you do. Always drive it a bit (with a bit of hard braking) after washing if you plan to park after washing.
And if it's raining while you're driving the rotors stay warm enough (even on a Tesla) to evaporate water so when you park you should be ok.
Rarely would my Model 3 nor Model X pop pads loose on the morning. Very rare event on all my cars, mostly because I'm aware of it and try to avoid setting up for it. Once in while is no big deal. To often and rotors will be a mess over time. It does not have to be freezing for the get stuck either.
And if it's raining while you're driving the rotors stay warm enough (even on a Tesla) to evaporate water so when you park you should be ok.
Rarely would my Model 3 nor Model X pop pads loose on the morning. Very rare event on all my cars, mostly because I'm aware of it and try to avoid setting up for it. Once in while is no big deal. To often and rotors will be a mess over time. It does not have to be freezing for the get stuck either.
WilliamG
Hinge Fanatic
Never read of anything bad happening to rotors (like...what could happen?!). You also don’t need to wash your car to experience this phenomenon. It happened in my STI a lot, my Golf R less, and my 3 only a handful of times.
That is normal. I get it on my X and my 3 if car is parked with brakes wet. Has nothing to do with temperature, happens when temps are over 70F.
WilliamG
Hinge Fanatic
In that case it’s the surface rust bonding the surfaces, and yes, that happens at any temperature if the brakes are wet.
On the 3, the rear brake calipers themselves have a separate motor in there that I presume mechanically clamps the pads. If I had to guess, its a gear reduction that clamps the caliper mechanically with a spring. It's independent from the hydraulic system and built into the calipers, so it should be redundant between the two sides as well. It's only the rears.
It's totally possible in some extreme circumstances the pads can be damaged from this, but its unlikely. It's best to mostly dry the rotors and pads a bit before parking if you wash it, pretty much just by laying into the brakes a touch. But this isn't a great option in winter or very wet weather, so it kinda is what it is. Just a bang or a pop should be no worry. If you need to really lean into the throttle to get the car to move you might want to rock it the other direction first and see if that helps, I've had one time where I was practically stalling a car to get it to move after being washed with the parking brake set. This was on a car with separate drum brakes in the back for the parking brake, so the design is much more prone to seizing when wet.
WilliamG
Hinge Fanatic
I had that happen so many times with drum brakes on a ‘93 Ford Escort Ghia Si (*nostalgia...*) back when I lived in the UK. I had to rock forward and back to “gently” release the brakes. Not easy with a 5MT!
on topic of brakes,
recently after a software update, e morning before goin out of my garage the brake pads seem to be stuck? as i back out garage a popping sound is present now but not before the update,
before if i put in neutral the car would roll out np, now it does not roll out and push on accelerator will pop brake pads? then roll happens...
recently after a software update, e morning before goin out of my garage the brake pads seem to be stuck? as i back out garage a popping sound is present now but not before the update,
before if i put in neutral the car would roll out np, now it does not roll out and push on accelerator will pop brake pads? then roll happens...
Msjulie
Active Member
Can't be 100% sure I'm understanding you but did you park the car when wet ie after rain or just driven? If so sounds like the before-mentioned surface rust breaking free, no biggie. Happens to mine every time I park it after a wash, next day
Akikiki
A'-Lo-HA ! y'all
Nothing wrong with your car or the e-brake. Its oxidation that occurs between pads and rotor. A slight coat or rust creeps up because "ya rode 'em and put him up wet" as we used to say about a good horse. Common occurrence. Likely to happen again. Just truck on.
Yo dude! Syracuse representing. I have the same issue starting last winter. I keep forgetting to tell the service center to lube my brakes when I take it in.
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