Braking at low speed is not a big deal, but the damaged brake pads, lousy discs, and worn-out calipers will cause some trouble. Remarkably, the popping sound when braking at low speed is a serious concern for drivers. This sound indicates a bad braking system.
There are mainly 5 reasons for getting the popping sound, including the above three.
Luckily, they all have solutions you must follow to get rid of the popping sound. Otherwise, it’ll damage the entire braking system (the disc, pads, shields, and other parts).
Therefore, today’s article will focus on popping sounds, causes, fixes, and tips. In short, everything! So, let’s binge on.
5 Reasons for Getting Popping Sound When Braking at Low Speed
Getting popping sounds from the brake is a concerning fact. You must check your braking system to find the sources or the damaged braking parts that make this noise.
Here are some of the reasons that are responsible for the popping sound that you hear while braking at low speed −
- Loose Brake Pads
- Lousy Disc
- Damaged CV Joint
- Worn Out Calipers
- Improper Fittings
Loose Brake Pads
Brake pads help you control braking at slow speed or full speed. But they might get worn or damaged due to overuse or after years of use.
In such conditions, you get loose brake pads. When you place your foot and press on the brake, it’ll create a popping sound at a slow speed.
When you drive at full speed, the brake pads will stick to a fixed place since you won’t touch them for a while.
Once you lower the speed, they will move a bit because of the loose nuts and bolts. That’s how the loose brake pads create a popping sound.
Lousy Rotor Disc
The worn-out rotor disc may create a popping sound. Moreover, the rotor discs have a protective layer on their surface.
After a couple of years, this layer may go off the surface. Consequently, the rotor disc will be worn out soon.
All these can be responsible for the popping sounds you hear.
Damaged CV Joint
The Constant Velocity, also known as the CV joint, connects the transmission system with the wheels. It’s a part of the driveshaft and can be found on both the front and rear wheels.
However, this CV joint can also create a popping sound once damaged or worn out.
The symptoms might be a stiff clutch and uncomfortable driving (to be exact, it’s braking and steering).
Once the CV joints start decaying and fail to connect the transmission with the wheels, you’ll get a lot of popping noise.
Worn out or Loose Calipers
Calipers are supposed to slow down the wheels through friction. And they are installed on the wheel rotors for a better braking system.
Unfortunately, the calipers may also get worn out or loosen. It happens for overused and long-time use.
Once the calipers are all worn out or loose, they will create a popping sound if you brake at a lower speed. You can just watch out for the calipers and get them fixed.
Improper Brake Fittings and Installation
If you have an old vehicle, it may require changing the entire braking system. Or any particular braking parts need to be replaced with a new one.
On that occasion, you must follow the proper way to install the brake fittings.
A little misalignment or fitting issues may create a popping noise, especially when you attach the nuts and bolts.
Whatever you change or repair, always look out for loose screws and nuts. A single loose nut may create a popping noise.
How to Solve Popping Sound When Braking at Low Speed?
Here in this section, we’ll give you the ways to fix the “popping sound” issues once and for all. So, keep reading till the end without skipping any of the sections.
Tighten All the Nuts and Bolts
Once you get the popping sound, you must check all the nuts and bolts attached to the braking parts.
Tight the loosened nuts and remove the decayed or damaged ones accordingly. If the sound is for loosening nuts & bolts, it must be gone.
Check Caliper Pins
After tightening all the screws, you may still get the popping sound.
In such a case, check the caliper pins, which may come off the discs, and move the caliper a little.
Moreover, if you find any loose caliper pins, fix that too. Otherwise, replace the pins with new ones. It helps to get rid of the popping sound if it’s for the caliper pins.
Change or Repair CV
What if you’ve got the popping sound for damaged CV joints? For this, repairing the joints and getting the best transmission system would be your only way to remove that popping sound.
Sometimes, repairing the CV joints also reduces that sound.
Replace Worn out Brake Discs
After running through all the ins and outs, you may still get the popping noise. And the reason can be worn-out brake discs or rotor discs.
So, you must replace the brake discs soon because there’s no way to repair the worn-out discs.
After replacing the worn-out discs and tightening all the bolts, you shouldn’t be hearing any popping sounds while braking at a low speed.
Remove and Reinstall the Brake
Sometimes, the entire braking system may be damaged. The rotor discs, brake pads, bearings, CV joints, and other parts may also be damaged for a long time (which happens with old vehicles).
So, getting popping sound braking at low speed might be a common experience.
You should change the entire braking system with an updated one. It costs higher than other ways, but it’s worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to brake at low speeds if it has a popping sound?
It’s safe to brake at low speed if it’s the popping sound. You just need to consider the braking time since it may take a few more seconds to stop the car. And the wearing may continue unless you release the brake pads.
Do tires and other parts cause popping sound braking at low speed?
Yes, the tire’s rotor discs & CV joints may cause the popping sound braking at low speed. The braking parts are only partially responsible for the popping sound.
What’s the best solution for popping sound?
Tight all the nuts & bolts and replacing the worn-out braking parts would be the best solution for the popping sound. You should inspect the entire braking system to get the loose nuts & damaged metal to solve the popping sound.
Closing Words
The popping sound when braking at low speed is for the loose nuts, bolts, and caliper pins. Besides, the damaged or worn-out braking discs, CV joints, and damaged bearings may create a popping sound.
So, to get rid of all of these issues, you need to inspect the braking system and the entire transmission system to figure out the origin of this troubleshooting.
Then, go for the solution or change that part accordingly. Sometimes, tightening the loosened nuts, bolts, and pins may give you an instant solution against the popping sound.
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