clicking sound in front end

[Victor Newman]

wanted to put up another thread on this, as i've done a lot of searching here and elsewhere on this problem. i have the stoptech 6-piston fixed calipers, and just took my hp+ pads out of the front to add grease between the back plate of the pad and the metal shims to reduce squeal at low speed. while that worked, i am now getting a clicking sound on both sides of the front end while turning at low speeds. i did not notice this when i first pulled out, but did after driving for about 30 min.

from looking around the forum and googling, it seems like others have this issue. some say it's one thing or another. i've seen the following possible explanations:

1) cv joints
2) swaybar attachment loose
3) dust shield hitting
4) problem with rotor or newly installed brake components
5) brake pad loose in the caliper
etc

i actually had this problem previously when the brakes were newly installed, and it eventually went away. i installed the new hp+ pads and did not grease between the shim and pad backing plate but did grease other locations. i did not have the clicking then. i had installed a little grease.

this time, i installed a liberal amount of grease everywhere, and i had the clicking after driving a little while. the reason i think i'm getting the clicking is over-greased pads combined with the rotor grabbing slightly and lifting the pad up, making a click. it then releases and lets the pad fall, and then repeats. seems to happen on one part of the rotor revolution. i know the rotor surface is not perfect from pad installation problems previously, where my rotors had a lot of uneven pad deposits and marks on them. i think that it doesn't happen immediately when it is cold because the grease is a little sticky when cold, but as the brake temperature rises, the grease loosens up and allows the pad to move more freely. i'm going to test this when i get home today. i think the original clicking went away when the grease slowly was removed through driving, dirt, and wheel washing

so i wanted to throw out my experience with this problem so far