Hey guys, first time posting here and seems like I could get some good responses.

I bought my 2001 Sunfire (first car) about a month ago and ever since day one when I drove it home (in the rain) it has had a problem.

It makes a loud bang noise whenever it sits in rain for a while and then I go back out to drive it. It does this for the first 2-3 stops and then when it warms up it seems fine.
I've read around and it seems it's normal for brakes to make a little noise when wet but this noise is kind of scary, anyone around my car would probably wonder what the
hell is wrong with my car.

I know that the front rotors are pretty new and not rusted and the brake pads in the front have about 60% left but the back brakes (drums) are rusted really bad, whoever had
the car before probably never ever changed them it seems. Before I bring it to the shop tomorrow to have the back brakes done I just want to know if the bang noise could
possibly be coming from these rusted back brakes. I don't want to spend money where I don't have to.

Just to repeat; it's only when the brakes are wet and I come back out after a few hours to drive it. It's a big bang noise (metal to metal it seems) and the car jerks harder than normal but after 2-3 stops it's fine.


Thanks for the help.

Listen to where exactly the noise is coming from, front or back, usually that gives you a pretty good idea where to start looking. I dont know about a "bang" noise, that makes me think of like a gun shot's bang, I know my brakes when wet will grab real hard and even make a "thud" noise if that helps at all, but i know that noises are described differently. Maybe if you're hearing it in the front, it could be control arm bushing or soemthing like that and when the wet brakes grab hard, its putting stress on the bad bushing letting the control arm hit the frame making metal to metal noise. Try stopping fairly hard when the brakes are dry, maybe you'll hear it. I dont see how the rear brakes can make the "metal to metal" noise you describe, there's not much back there that will move. They'll stick and you'll get a Thud or Clunk, but not metal to metal...hope that helps a little.

if your rear drums are rusted and old and your gettin ghte banging sound like you need a rear brake service and just replace the drums get it all adjusted and they will be fine

its moiture in the drum then they start to rust really bad and the outer lip goes moisture gets in easier.

its never a sealed tight systems but when they rust out there in need of replacement




JBO since July 30, 2001

Thanks for the suggestions. Yeah after hearing it one more time I'd say its rather a "clunk" sound. I'm getting pretty much a full brake job done in 3 days so I'll update on if it fixed the problem. The guy I checked it with said my calipers are seized so I figure that could be it as well.