Hello all,

I have a 1997 ES300. I noticed some noise from the rear brakes, like they are dragging. Sometimes when I am going real slow not even using the brakes, I can hear a groan/whine from the rear (like when you first get in your car and it's been raining, the brakes make that kind of noise). The groan/whine isn't a huge deal and doesnt happen all the time but it would be good to fix it. It usually happens at low speeds and when I touch the brakes it begins to make the noise. If I let off on the brakes it still makes the noise as the car is rolling slowly, but once I stop and go again it usually doesnt make the same noise.

However the dragging noise is there all the time. I took the pads and caliper off the wheel and turned the passenger rear disc by hand and I could hear something making contact. This is definitely the noise im hearing all the time. When I drive over a bridge or between two buildings you can really hear it good. Is this something to do with the parking brake system? Is it possible for the rear shoes to be dragging? I didnt have time today but this weekend I plan to pull the rotor off and inspect the components, but wanted to gather some info first as to what it might be.

 

Your brake calipers' pins got rusted. You need to open up the calipers and slide it back and forth to see if it's sliding back and forth at all. If it's not then you have to lubricate it with the caliper grease. Try all four calipers then you'll be fine, you might have to replace all the pins on all four calipers. Good luck.

 

If it's still making noise with the calipers removed, then it's not them, it's something on the e-brake system. The e-brake is a drum-style brake with shoes, it works on the inside of the "hat" of the rotor. Pull the rotor off and take a look, it could be something needs to be adjusted or lubricated.

 

I had a noise from my rear brakes in the past. Hard to explain but it was like a low grinding dragging noise. The rear rotors just had too much rust on them and was rubbing in certain spots. Once I replaced the rotors the noise was gone.

 

I just had the same noise and my ebrake shoes were done, also my left rear caliper seemed to be sticking a bit, so i had all the pins greased. Now my front left caliper is sticking, but i;ve just opted to replace the entire front brakes, rotors, pads, calipers. If you live somewhre where it snows and the brakes rust, this will be an issue you will run into as i have greased the pins in my front rotor twice already