Another Rock in the Brakes

gomichaelkgo · 01-30-2014, 06:36 PM

I got a rock stuck in my rear caliper yesterday. It sounded like the car was going to grind itself apart, but only for a block. This is the second time it's happened to me in a BMW, and never happened in any other car.

Are BMWs prone to getting rocks in the brakes?

snowghost · 01-30-2014, 06:38 PM

What are you driving on?

gomichaelkgo · 01-30-2014, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowghost

What are you driving on?

A patch of marginal pavement -- no potholes, but the asphalt was crumbly. 20 miles per hour.

shivaswrath · 01-30-2014, 07:42 PM

I have never heard of this.

I think you have bad rock karama.

mjf5012 · 01-30-2014, 09:02 PM

Same thing happened to me last month. It was a crazy sound.

Sedan_Clan · 01-30-2014, 09:37 PM

I've never had this happen to me.

BavarianFanatic · 01-30-2014, 09:45 PM

I've had it happen numerous times in different cars. I think it's a function of how much loose gravel there is and how sticky your tires are (or the gravel for that matter). It IS a horrible sound.

RoundelM3 · 01-31-2014, 08:22 AM

Not something that only BMWs are prone to. Has more to do with the roads one drives on than anything mechanical.

BMWbill · 01-31-2014, 08:59 AM

I ruined a rotor on my Mazda CX-9 with a stuck rock and I once ruined 2 or more rotors on my E46 M3 following too close to a snow plow/sanding truck on the thruway during a snowstorm. (Not sure how many because BMW simply replaced all 4 rotors without question)
Make sure you get those rocks out ASAP!

Dr. Skillz · 01-31-2014, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomichaelkgo

I got a rock stuck in my rear caliper yesterday. It sounded like the car was going to grind itself apart, but only for a block. This is the second time it's happened to me in a BMW, and never happened in any other car.

Are BMWs prone to getting rocks in the brakes?

How do you know a rock/pebble was physically embedded in the rear calipers?

Sometimes when I drive over loosely compacted asphalt, I get some "clinking" noise for a bit emanating from the wheel well. It kind of sounds like a slow-spinning food processor with small pebbles in it.

Is it the same noise found in the video below?

BMWbill · 01-31-2014, 10:09 AM

no that is a metallic sound. Rocks make girding noises, and they immediately gouge up your rotor so if its on the visible side you should see a groove forming.

gomichaelkgo · 01-31-2014, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Skillz

How do you know a rock/pebble was physically embedded in the rear calipers?

Sometimes when I drive over loosely compacted asphalt, I get some "clinking" noise for a bit emanating from the wheel well. It kind of sounds like a slow-spinning food processor with small pebbles in it.

Is it the same noise found in the video below?

It was similar. I know it was a rock by circumstance. I drove over some crumbly pavement, heard rocks hitting the wheel well walls, and then the screeching/grinding. Just as suddenly as it started, it went away completely with a popping sound. I hope the rotors weren't damaged, as it had a rock in it for only one block.

BavarianFanatic · 01-31-2014, 12:04 PM

Most rocks/pebbles WON'T damage your rotors. At least not significantly enough to worry about it. They just make a hell of a racket.

BMWbill · 01-31-2014, 12:07 PM

I guess I just had bad luck. The only times I've had them they ruined my rotors. Obviously the factor must be how hard the rock is compared to cast iron.

Bjornizz · 02-09-2014, 05:40 AM

I've had the same problem on my E39. Every time I drive on gravel with the car, a rock gets stuck between the brake shield and the discs. But that is a stupid design on the brake shields. I was hoping they had this fixed by now?

01-30-2014, 06:36 PM	#1
gomichaelkgo Second Lieutenant 22 Rep 209 Posts Drives: 2014 335i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (0)	Another Rock in the Brakes I got a rock stuck in my rear caliper yesterday. It sounded like the car was going to grind itself apart, but only for a block. This is the second time it's happened to me in a BMW, and never happened in any other car. Are BMWs prone to getting rocks in the brakes?
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

01-30-2014, 06:38 PM	#2
snowghost Colonel 155 Rep 2,266 Posts Drives: '13 335i M-Sport 6MT Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: SoCal iTrader: (1)	What are you driving on? __________________ F30 Sapphire Black M-Sport 335i 6MT
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-30-2014, 07:42 PM	#4
shivaswrath Brigadier General 649 Rep 4,323 Posts Drives: 2012 335i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lost in NJ iTrader: (3)	I have never heard of this. I think you have bad rock karama. __________________ CURRENT: 2017 RS3 (miss you guys) SOLD: 2012 335i Mineral Gray M Performance Exhaust/Brakes/Suspension/LSD\|Bav Stage 1/AMP\|\|ER CP/IC/DP/OC \| Dinan CAI/N55 PWG BIG TURBO\|BMWF30.com
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-30-2014, 09:02 PM	#5
mjf5012 Private 38 Rep 80 Posts Drives: 2024 M3 Comp xDrive Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: State College, PA iTrader: (0)	Same thing happened to me last month. It was a crazy sound.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-30-2014, 09:37 PM	#6
Sedan_Clan Law Enforcer 24981 Rep 22,266 Posts Drives: '22 Chalk Gray Porsche C2S Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: ..in your rearview!!! iTrader: (26)	I've never had this happen to me.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-30-2014, 09:45 PM	#7
BavarianFanatic Too much is never enough 655 Rep 3,079 Posts Drives: Too Many Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SE PA iTrader: (0)	I've had it happen numerous times in different cars. I think it's a function of how much loose gravel there is and how sticky your tires are (or the gravel for that matter). It IS a horrible sound.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-31-2014, 08:22 AM	#8
RoundelM3 Major General 1833 Rep 6,987 Posts Drives: 15 F80 M3, 22 G01 X3 30i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Wendell, NC iTrader: (2) Garage List 2022 BMW X3 [9.83] 2015 BMW M3 [6.50]	Not something that only BMWs are prone to. Has more to do with the roads one drives on than anything mechanical. __________________ 2015 F80 ///M3 Sedan 7DCT Tanzanite, 2022 X3 sDrive30i 8AT Brooklyn Grey
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-31-2014, 08:59 AM	#9
BMWbill BMW Enthusiast 31 Rep 237 Posts Drives: F31 M-Sport wagon, E46 M3 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Long Island NY iTrader: (0)	I ruined a rotor on my Mazda CX-9 with a stuck rock and I once ruined 2 or more rotors on my E46 M3 following too close to a snow plow/sanding truck on the thruway during a snowstorm. (Not sure how many because BMW simply replaced all 4 rotors without question) Make sure you get those rocks out ASAP! __________________ F31 Estoril Blue Wagon \| E46 Phoenix Yellow M3 \| 1958 BMW R50 \| 1981 BMW Café Racer My BMW café racer on BikeEXIF
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-31-2014, 10:09 AM	#11
BMWbill BMW Enthusiast 31 Rep 237 Posts Drives: F31 M-Sport wagon, E46 M3 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Long Island NY iTrader: (0)	no that is a metallic sound. Rocks make girding noises, and they immediately gouge up your rotor so if its on the visible side you should see a groove forming. __________________ F31 Estoril Blue Wagon \| E46 Phoenix Yellow M3 \| 1958 BMW R50 \| 1981 BMW Café Racer My BMW café racer on BikeEXIF
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-31-2014, 12:04 PM	#13
BavarianFanatic Too much is never enough 655 Rep 3,079 Posts Drives: Too Many Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SE PA iTrader: (0)	Most rocks/pebbles WON'T damage your rotors. At least not significantly enough to worry about it. They just make a hell of a racket.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-31-2014, 12:07 PM	#14
BMWbill BMW Enthusiast 31 Rep 237 Posts Drives: F31 M-Sport wagon, E46 M3 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Long Island NY iTrader: (0)	I guess I just had bad luck. The only times I've had them they ruined my rotors. Obviously the factor must be how hard the rock is compared to cast iron. __________________ F31 Estoril Blue Wagon \| E46 Phoenix Yellow M3 \| 1958 BMW R50 \| 1981 BMW Café Racer My BMW café racer on BikeEXIF
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-09-2014, 05:40 AM	#15
Bjornizz Private First Class 20 Rep 135 Posts Drives: 2014 320DA xDrive & 2001 520i Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Norway iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW 320D xDrive [10.00]	I've had the same problem on my E39. Every time I drive on gravel with the car, a rock gets stuck between the brake shield and the discs. But that is a stupid design on the brake shields. I was hoping they had this fixed by now?
	Appreciate 0 Quote