'Knock' when Reversing. VW say 'Brake pads moving in caliper, its normal"? Reallly?

[pontiff]

Hey all,

For about 10k now my polo makes a 'clunk' noise from the front end when reversing into a car space. It only seems to happen on the drivers side and the clunk only happens once per movement. Sounds like a strut or swaybar knocking against something...

I took the car to VW today for its 30k service and the service adviser just rang and said "it's the brake pads moving in the caliper and its perfectly normal"

Does anyone have the same issue? Does what the SA is saying right? Ive never heard of that before...

[staz88]

Sounds like a correct analysis. First movement in reverse after travelling fowards will make the pads move to the other end of the caliper if there is a small gap.. hence the clunk.
My other car does the same thing.

[ozgti]

Yep, MK6 118tsi- They said the same thing. I don't believe them as the pads are NOT supposed to move at all.

[pontiff]

Glad its not just me getting this problem then. Its just frustrating that the car is BRILLIANT in so many ways, yet silly little things like that where you go "what do you mean THAT is normal" spoils it somewhat. There is probably seating compound or something that would help which I will look at when I get the time.

Incidentally.... 30k service (oil service and brake fluid change from what I can see) without the pollen filter... Barloworld Glen Waverley, $658. Will certainly be shopping around next time, that sounds a little steep.

[Greg]

I get the clunk in a B6 Passat but only when I have swung in an arc and then reverse, if drive in straight and reverse out straight I don't get it.....actually the 528 Beemer I had before used to do it ooccasionaly as well and I was told was normal....

[gavs]

What?!?!?! Tis why I wouldn't ever go back to Barloworld along with the complete lack of knowledge.

[Veeduby]

I have a sort of clunk sound when moving forward (frontish/drivers side). Happens only once per journey and always occurs after starting the car and moving forward for the first time.

Would this be the same type of thing?

[Guest001]

I have a sort of clunk sound when moving forward (frontish/drivers side). Happens only once per journey and always occurs after starting the car and moving forward for the first time.

Would this be the same type of thing?

What Op is talking about is putting brakes on when reversing which may shift the pads if they dont fit tight.

Not the same as a noise when moving without the brakes applied
I think you already posted about this ( or someone did) Could be a solenoid in the motor retracting as a noise like that occurs in my Polo when moving off when cold only

[Nuggos]

Glad its not just me getting this problem then. Its just frustrating that the car is BRILLIANT in so many ways, yet silly little things like that where you go "what do you mean THAT is normal" spoils it somewhat. There is probably seating compound or something that would help which I will look at when I get the time.

Incidentally.... 30k service (oil service and brake fluid change from what I can see) without the pollen filter... Barloworld Glen Waverley, $658. Will certainly be shopping around next time, that sounds a little steep.

650 sounds right NOT, they seriously are retards. I have been to the dealer 3 times now to get rid of a noise which i keep being assured is "normal operation" which i was told by their mechanic it wasnt when he sat in my car, and last time they said they extensively tested it on the road yet the odometer didnt move, how amazing

[ozgti]

My last service was about $650 ish from CCC, I think it was the 30,000. My gf drives the car sod I'm not sure!

[staz88]

I have a sort of clunk sound when moving forward (frontish/drivers side). Happens only once per journey and always occurs after starting the car and moving forward for the first time.

Would this be the same type of thing?

I would say it's the same thing. The pads are always in contact with the disc, even without a foot on the pedal. 1st movement forward after going reverse will push the pads in the caliper if there is a gap. You may find the problem disappears after a pad change, if the new pads have finer tolerances in the caliper.

[pontiff]

Good to know that they are not trying to take the cheap way out (and do nothing). I'll pull the wheel off today and have a look.. It could even be an increased tolerance in the calipers casting?

I appreciate the cause and its not hurting anything but I don't think that cars now a days should make any clunks, knocks or creeks as they have come so far in both technology and manufacturing compared to even 10 years ago (but I guess brakes have not chanced in that time)

Would have been nice if vw had said "yes while it's not hurting anything and doesn't affect the operation of the brakes, hearing the clunk all the time is a little unrefined and not what we want a quality product like Volkswagen doing so we will change the brake pads for a different set"

Like I say, car is brilliant and a sensational piece of kit, but little things can let down the rest of the package..

[blutopless2]

Would have been nice if vw had said "yes while it's not hurting anything and doesn't affect the operation of the brakes, hearing the clunk all the time is a little unrefined and not what we want a quality product like Volkswagen doing so we will change the brake pads for a different set"

pmsl

[pontiff]

True.. What was I thinking

[Veeduby]

What Op is talking about is putting brakes on when reversing which may shift the pads if they dont fit tight.

Not the same as a noise when moving without the brakes applied
I think you already posted about this ( or someone did) Could be a solenoid in the motor retracting as a noise like that occurs in my Polo when moving off when cold only

I would say it's the same thing. The pads are always in contact with the disc, even without a foot on the pedal. 1st movement forward after going reverse will push the pads in the caliper if there is a gap. You may find the problem disappears after a pad change, if the new pads have finer tolerances in the caliper.

Thanks to both your responses! I guess I'll just live with it since it doesn't seem to be a big deal.