22's And Factory Brakes

[300C ON 24'S]

I was wondering if anyone has brake noise when braking with 22's? I think it's because they heat up real fast, but it's also 19 degrees in Chicago right now, can they heat up that quick driving a couple blocks? And it's not brake dust, I get it washed every other day. The noise usually start's the last couple feet of the stop. I don't know, if anyone has the same problem let me know.

Thanks

[Northern Rider]

Originally Posted by 300C ON 22'S

I was wondering if anyone has brake noise when braking with 22's? I think it's because they heat up real fast, but it's also 19 degrees in Chicago right now, can they heat up that quick driving a couple blocks? And it's not brake dust, I get it washed every other day. The noise usually start's the last couple feet of the stop. I don't know, if anyone has the same problem let me know.

Thanks

I've been through this problem with other cars. The brakes are engineered for 18" wheels. The extra weight of the large wheels and tires, spinning at speed, along with the larger rubber contact footprint are overloading the brakes.

You may need to go to larger discs and calipers.

[Busta]

Im glad I got my car during the winter so I have time to see all these issues. My plan from word go was to put 20's on and be done with it. I came on here and seen all you guys with the 22's and changed my mind.....but im thinkin now im back to 20's!!

[joey]

Originally Posted by 300C ON 22'S

I was wondering if anyone has brake noise when braking with 22's? I think it's because they heat up real fast, but it's also 19 degrees in Chicago right now, can they heat up that quick driving a couple blocks? And it's not brake dust, I get it washed every other day. The noise usually start's the last couple feet of the stop. I don't know, if anyone has the same problem let me know.

Thanks

Front and/or rear brakes?
Do you get the noise when hard braking, or regular braking?

I have stock 18" wheels and when I brake hard to a full stop I sometimes get some real strange sounds from my front brakes. Almost like metal-on-metal grinding. Maybe the noise is coming from the ABS system. I have yet to feel the usual pulsing ABS feedback in the brake pedal that I get in my other cars.

[DZeckhausen]

Originally Posted by 300C ON 22'S

I was wondering if anyone has brake noise when braking with 22's? I think it's because they heat up real fast, but it's also 19 degrees in Chicago right now, can they heat up that quick driving a couple blocks? And it's not brake dust, I get it washed every other day. The noise usually start's the last couple feet of the stop. I don't know, if anyone has the same problem let me know.

Can you describe the noise? Does it happen only under light to medium braking?

If it's a squealing that occurs during the last few feet of your stop or if it's a "scrunch" noise, then it's due to the change in coefficient of friction between your pads and rotors as you transition from moving to being stopped. If you recall from physics class, the static coefficient of friction is greater than the sliding coefficient of friction. So, just before you come to a complete stop, the coefficient of friction jumps. As it does, the calipers get "excited" and shake violently, creating this crunching sound. Or the pads vibrate and you get a high pitched squeal.

Either of these problems can be reduced or eliminated by proper bedding of the pads to the rotors. When your brakes are bedded, the sliding coefficient of friction is higher. Thus, the transition from sliding to static coefficient of friction is less dramatic and you end up with reduced or eliminated noise.

The technique for properly bedding brakes is described on my web site: http://www.zeckhausen.com/bedding_in_brakes.htm

[DZeckhausen]

Originally Posted by joey

I have stock 18" wheels and when I brake hard to a full stop I sometimes get some real strange sounds from my front brakes. Almost like metal-on-metal grinding. Maybe the noise is coming from the ABS system. I have yet to feel the usual pulsing ABS feedback in the brake pedal that I get in my other cars.

That's probably the ABS engaging.

Unlike other cars you may have driven in the past, the modern ABS in the Chrysler 300C does not give as much pedal feedback. This was designed in because many drivers reflexively lift off the brakes when they get that feedback in the pedal, resulting in longer stopping distances during a panic stop.

Most people think the flutter they feel in the brake pedal is the result of the hydraulic pressure being released and then reapplied to the calipers. It's not. When the dump valve solenoid opens up to relieve pressure from the caliper in order to prevent the wheel from locking up, that fluid has to go somewhere. It's collected in a cylinder called the accumulator. Eventually, the fluid needs to be pumped back into the master cylinder reservoir by an accumulator pump. It is the action of that pump that you feel through your brake pedal. There's just as much drama taking place at the caliper on your new Chrysler as there was on your car 10 years ago, but much less feedback in the pedal due to improved accumulator pump design.

[coolvanilla]

I have the same problem with stock 18". It sounds like grinding in the front brakes when I RELEASE the brake, not apply. I had the dealer check it a couple of weeks ago when I was in for an oil change. He greased the calipers but it didn't help.

[pd171]

I had that scrunching noise always on my BMW, mainly when I released the brakes and right before coming to a complete stop. It was annoying but the brakes always stopped great. I wish I had known the bedding process Dave Zeckhausen has decribed for I surely would have tried it. I don't have that noise on my C, the brakes are very quiet. If you try the bedding process please let us know if it cures the problem.

Dave how do you think the C stacks up against your 540i? They are both nice rides. I traded a 99 528i on my C and I like the C better but the BMW was superior in some areas IMHO.

[DZeckhausen]

Originally Posted by pd171

Dave how do you think the C stacks up against your 540i? They are both nice rides. I traded a 99 528i on my C and I like the C better but the BMW was superior in some areas IMHO.

They are very different cars. The C stacks up very well against my 1996 Impala SS and that's what it replaced. I still have the BMW 540i 6-Speed.

Since I've installed an M5 limited slip, Dinan Stage 3 suspension, Brembo brakes, and very sticky Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 tires on the BMW 540i/6, the two cars diverge even more.

The 4.4 liter BMW is much faster through the twisties due to the suspension and tires. The C is a better cruising car for long trips, has a more intelligent navigation computer, usable cup holders, better sound system, better torque for launching. But the 540i can get the power to the ground better and isn't as skittish when hitting bumps. The C tends to become unsettled on rough roads and the tail often kicks out or the car jumps sideways when it hits a decent bump or pothole. The BMW remains composed.

[pd171]

Originally Posted by DZeckhausen

The C tends to become unsettled on rough roads and the tail often kicks out or the car jumps sideways when it hits a decent bump or pothole. The BMW remains composed.

This is the big thing that I have noticed where my BMW with a stock suspension was vastly superior. Could better shocks be a partial cure for this or would it be much more involved? This is the number one area I would spend money on for mods (before wheels, grills or any cosmetics); brakes would be number two.