I have had an annoying rattle/vibration from the front of my Abarth for about 18mths now (car is 2yr old, 21k miles). I tied it down to the front brake caliper sliders rattling, especially when driving on our rough UK roads.
Fiat changed the pads first, no cure. Then after a good half dozen trips to and fro to another dealer I got them to change the full front calipers. It was OK for about a month then came back. Thought that the numpties who put the new calipers on used the old sliders, so I bought some new sliders for £25 and fit them myself (10min job). Again it lasted a few weeks and he presto the rattle/vibration has come back.

Anybody else noticed a vibration on rough road? If so press the brakes and see if it stops, it should as the pads bind. Otherwise turn up the stereo!

Ta

Hi Nidge

I drive an 02 Abarth, and have driven about 10k miles in it since I got it last year; never noticed any front brake rattle, though?!

If the problem keeps coming back, maybe its not the brakes that are fault!

I get a rattle from the front, not all the time but sound like somthing to do with the suspension arm?! But then i heard a few people suffer from squeekey/rattley suspension!

do u get the werid noise not wen travelling up and over the road hump but wen u cum down at the end of the big road hump then u hear that annoying noise like sumthng metal rattling griding against sumthing

My dad's car had a similar problem once and he was told that one of the discs was loose or something of the sort; they said it's not something you can actually see when the car is not in movement but that when u gain speed they can rattle or even com into contact with the pads. That would explain why it stops when u hit the brakes. Who knows, maybe you should have a look, u know Fiat is not to be trusted to see theese things!!!

I had a metal rattle noise when turning and manovuring at slow speed, I think the dealer mentioned a disc heat shield was loose and rattling, could it be that? doesn't sound the same mind.

Ta for the replies.

I have noticed the same sort of suspension squeeks going over speed bumps which is to do with the suspension bushes. I have pulled the caliper sliders again yesterday and packed best I can with grease and the rattle has gone. I didn't touch anything else or tighten owt up. I am 100% sure it is the caliper sliders which have excess play but cant believe that the second set of calipers are the same and nobody else appears to have the same problem.

Anyway thanks for the replies and I have now got some ear plugs!

On a side note, what the general consensus with squeaky noisy front suspension? Mine is sounding a bit rough at the moment, all the bleedin' speed bumps in my village are killing it.

Just a case of getting the garage to re-grease it all?

does the noise stop when you touch the brake pedal? I,ve had trouble with rattling from the nearside front of my car after having the brake pads replaced (I'm on my third set now). It seems a dollop of copper grease on the back of the pad stops the noise. A very simple sollution to a very annoying problem.


2002 1.6 Dynamic 5dr Steel grey.