Brakes click when going in reverse

The pads are free to wiggle slightly in the caliper mount that supports them by their 'ears'. Usually, they are all the way forward, because that's the way they get shoved by wheel rotation when you brake moving forward, which is the usual case. That's also the direction the springy 'fitting kit' pieces hold them, so your forward braking is normally clickless.

So they have a mm or so of room to slip the other direction when you brake in reverse, before they bonk the other side of the mounting bracket with a click sound.

The pads have a couple layers of shims behind them, with grease between the shims, just to make it easy for them to slide around, so a nice distinct click when you brake in reverse tells you they are sliding around nicely, and isn't a bad sign at all.

-Chap

 

seems odd to me, but one mans click is another mans tap.

 

It is normal.

 

If mine ever stopped clicking when I reverse, I'd probably make a mental note to get out the jack and find out why. Not urgently, but when convenient.

-Chap

 

I guess I will have to pay more attention. My wife has good hearing I will ask her.

 

My 2013 v5 clicks only in reverse. I think the sound is only coming from the right front wheel.
My 2012 gen3 liftback never did this.
I’m going to see if my preferred dealer, Kendall in Eugene , can fix this for me.
If there is play in the pads there must be a mechanism to install shims.

 

Wouldn't be any sense in taking all the play out. Given high heat and differing rates of thermal expansion, binding would be sure to result. The brakes are designed as they are so the pad ears easily slide in the mounting bracket grooves, and the fitting-kit pieces keep them nudged in the forward-braking direction, so there is normally no click in the usual case.