First off I have a 1990 Cadillac DeVille with the 4.5 V8 and front disk, rear drum brakes. Sometimes when I'm driving around town and I come up to a stop sign or stoplight my brakes make a weird clicking/thumping sound. The clicking speeds up and slows down with the speed of the car and the clicking sound only happens when you apply the brake pedal. Also, this happens randomly; one day it will make this clicking sound very loud, and the next day it won't happen at all.

There is no brake pulsation or excessive brake travel when this noise happens. For example: if you were to have the radio up really loud, you wouldn't know the brakes were acting up because you can't feel anything through the pedal, ect...

So far I have machined both front rotors thinking they could possibly be warped, replaced both front brake pads, and cleaned and inspected the rear drums. Brake fluid is clean and somewhat new so I don't know what it could be. :hmm: Any ideas?? I'm pretty stuck on this one because I think I have gone through most normal brake problems; rotors, pads, fluid, drums.

Have you explored other than brakes as a possibility? For example, on mine, i have spoked locking wheel covers, and if the locks are tightened just a little too much, they make sounds like you describe, and more while cornering. I don't know your year and model enough to offer experienced help, I guess, but maybe it's not the brakes. From which wheel(s) does the sound seem to come from?

"i have spoked locking wheel covers, and if the locks are tightened just a little too much, they make sounds like you describe, and more while cornering"


I had the exact same problem about 6 months back. The wheel centercaps were a little loose and they would shake a little bit and make a noise. Since one was already missing on my car I just took them all off, so now there are no loose parts on my wheels. I also checked the spokes thinking maybe one was loose but they all are fine. Wheel bearings are tight and don't have very much play in them indicating they are still good to go. I am almost 100% positive it has something to do with the brakes because this noise only happens when you press the brake pedal. It has never happened when you are just cruising down the street. Oh BTW I just started to notice the slightest pedal pulsation when this noise happens. It is barely noticable though. Anyway I'm convinced it's the brakes since it only happens during braking but I am stumped to what the problem is. AAHHHHHH this is frustrating! :banghead:

Remember I know your thinking pedal pulsation = warped rotors but they were just machined yesterday and there as flat as a pancake and smooth as a babies bottom. Oh and the noise seems to be from the front of the car as far as I can tell.