General Irritating rattle

[rholtby]

Ive had my punto a year and a half now, but i still cant work it out. There seems to be a rattle from the wheels every time i hit a slight bump, ive had new bushes and shocks in in the last year so im really stuck with wat it could be. Anyone got an idea

Thanks

 

[MikeSalt]

Give the disc backing plate a good shake. They are pretty thin, and operating in quite a harsh environment, so they rust through at the mounting points.

Also, check that the brake hose and any ABS wire is properly located in the clip on the strut.

 

[rholtby]

Thanks foe that, i think i know which part your on about, do i just get new ones if it is that?

 

[MikeSalt]

Unfortunately, the backing plate cannot be removed until the hub comes off, and often taking the hub off pulls the inner race of the wheel bearing out. If that happens, then you need a new bearing and a hydraulic press to remove the remains of your old one and press the new one in.

 

[rholtby]

Hmm thats a bugger, got any ideas what i can do?

 

[MikeSalt]

Hmm thats a bugger, got any ideas what i can do?

If it is the backing plate, I would be tempted to just take the caliper off and cut it off (being very careful to support the caliper from the strut, and not damaging the fluid hose). I discovered only this year that my car had been missing one of its backing plates for at least 5 years and it didn't seem to do any harm. What you can do is purchase the plate from Fiat and leave it in the car. Next time that hub has to come off, ask nicely if they can put the new backing plate on. It will cost no extra in labour.

 

[DaveMcT]

If it is the backing plate, the flapping part can probably be wrenched off. Its only a bit of tin that covers the back of the brake disc. All cars have them but I really cant see the point. Bikes have completely open discs and they stop fine in the wet.

 

[MikeSalt]

If it is the backing plate, the flapping part can probably be wrenched off. Its only a bit of tin that covers the back of the brake disc. All cars have them but I really cant see the point. Bikes have completely open discs and they stop fine in the wet.

Since the front of the discs are only protected by the wheel spokes, and the backing plates are hardly comprehensive in their coverage, I don't understand the purpose of them.

 

[rholtby]

Ok thanks alot, ill be digging out the hack saw soon.

Thanks again

 

[DaveMcT]

Decent pliers and a good bending about will probably be enough.

 

[MikeSalt]

Decent pliers and a good bending about will probably be enough.

And less likely to catch the brake flexi-hose with anything sharp too.