Clunking Rear Brakes

[peterdw]

I have a 2002/02 RAV4 GX Automatic with 57k miles (imported through Trade Sales with full UK spec.) Over about the past year the rear brakes clunk when applied particularly at low speeds (I possibly don't hear them at higher speeds). The local Toyota dealer who has serviced it from the first service says that it is a known fault and cannot be cured. Honest John from the Saturday Telegraph Motoring section says it is movement in the handbrake.

Does anyone else have this problem? Can it be fixed? Has there been a recall? I would like to keep the car from a year or two but it is embarrassing when carrying passengers and it would make it difficult to sell.

[anchorman]

Hi

I cut and pasted this from the US RAV4 World forum.

"If your Rav is like mine, you here this noise more pronounced from a dead stop, particularly when parked on an inclince.

The 'clunk' you hear is the brake pads shifting. For one reason or another they fit the calipers slightly loosely. Mine started doing this around the 25,000km mark.

It's nothing to be overly concerned about, though, for your own peace of mind, you could pull off a wheel & inspect, at which point you'll likely see that the pad can 'flop' around slightly, thus the noise."

It seems known but you could have a look see.

It seems that with time the pads are able to move within the callipers. You might improve the situation by changing the pads which will put new backplates in contact with an unworn part of the calliper. You should be able to check by jacking up the rear wheel (front scotched) and getting an assistant to press the brake while you rock the wheel to see if you can generate any movement. Do it with the wheel on as it will give you more leverage.

The handbrake shoes are prone to clunking but only if you apply the handbrake before coming to a stand (which you shouldn't anyway). It is worth double checking because while the pads knocking inside the calliper is not a real problem but more af an annoyance, you want to make sure there is nothing more sinister.

Good luck.

[Uncle Bob]

My 2004 RAV4 rear pads knock from time to time, i had them looked at under warrenty last year with 15K on the clock, still does it but as i now know what it is i'm not to worried.....my guess is maybe an after market set of pads like ADL-Blueprint may fix the problem or a new set of pad clips/ shims.

[dave.m]

Hi all, I get a bit of this from the front. Allways suspected it to be the callipers. If they are a similar

set up to a Vauxhall I had a number of years ago, then I am not too worried as the callipers

were the floating type (if you know what I mean)

I would also expect a bit of mechanical clunking when going from forward to reverse and vice

versa due to number of parts in the drive system. As there must be some amount of backlash

on parts.

Cheers,

Dave.

[bitman]

there is an toyota service advisory about this, CP-0015 of Jul 2000. i have it here http://www.bit4net.com/files/rav4/CP-0015.pdf for download, easy job.

[anchorman]

there is an toyota service advisory about this, CP-0015 of Jul 2000. i have it here http://www.bit4net.com/files/rav4/CP-0015.pdf for download, easy job.

I kinda get the feeling that Mr T himself was having a go at transration!