Its been a few months now that I installed EBC cross drilled/slotted rotors with EBC Ultimax brake pads. I get this strange whistling/ticking noise, the closest thing I can relate the noise to is putting a card in a bicycle spoke. Its sort of like a clicking sound. If i drive next to a wall, I can hear the sound echo off the wall more which gets annoying. And this is happening when I'm not even riding the breaks! Nothing feels strange when I brake, except that it gets a little louder. The noise is pretty faint and can only be heard with the windows down.

Is this due to the drilled/slotted rotors? Or is it more related to an improper install?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

Make sure your rotors aren't warped...if you tighten your lugs too tight this'll happen.

Did you put back everything including shim kits and springs?

Make sure the brake shield isn't rubbing.

 

I have some dimpled and slotted EBC rotors on my Durango. They definitely make a sound like what you are describing when braking. Its basically the air being forced through the slots and in your case holes. I have a VERY quiet rolling noise too. I can only hear in in alleys or when driving next to solid walls or fences. Your rolling noise may be the same - air passing between the pad and disc and holes/slots. Better safe the sorry - go back over the brake system and make sure everything is where it belongs.

Warped rotors don't make noise. The brake shield would not get louder with braking if it was making contact with the rotor.

 

Its because they are drilled/slotted. No worries. I had the same question years ago when I installed my first set.

 

I have just drilled rotors....and it makes noise from the air going through the channels inside the rotors. I don't think slotted rotors have this noise problem.

Suggestion.....roll up your windows.

 

Ok great! I will take all this info into consideration when approaching the car shop mechanic and hopefully there's a solution to the noise or else I'll just put back on my stock rotors and order new oem brake pads. Thanks alot!

 

I have the same problem. Just installed EBC dimpled/slotted rotors and red stuff pads on my ES300 last Sunday. First two days, no noise, now there is a constant "tick, tick, tick..." from both front wheels while driving. I just got done removing and re-checking the whole install and the noise is still there. It doesn't sound like air noise at all. Ticking disappears when I apply the brakes though. I was thinking maybe the pads are not seating firmly? I am going to call EBC tomorrow and see what they say. This is not a "turbo" whirring noise they describe on their website.

 

So I emailed EBC, they say its normal noise that will lessen after 1K miles but always be there. He said some customers describe it as a "spinning ratchet" noise. I wish they would have said "spinning ratchet noise" on their website which is more accurate than "aero-wind noise". Guess they would not sell many rotors being honest about what the noise really sounded like. They have switched from a 5-slot to a 3-slot rotor design to quiet them down. I would imagine they were getting a lot of complaints.

 

You could try exchanging them out for a set of their new SUPER SILENT Ultimax USR slotted series rotors.