Help - urgent problem

[Razza]

Heard a clunk the other week and couldn't work out what it was until today. Part of the inside the front left wheel arch has come away, quite a big chunk of rusted metal, problem is part of the brake cable going to the caliper is attached to it. Don't think anything has come unattached re the brakes. Going to remove clip from metal to stop it rattling about.

Is it still safe to drive?, planning taking it straight to the garage to get fixed

This ever happened to anyone else?

Thanks in advance

[Ant]

with the brake hose flapping about you do run the risk of it chafing through eventually, cable tiue the remains to the leg itself to prevent it flapping too much but do allow some slack for suspension deflection and lock to locking

Best bet, fix it ASAP, sounds a bit dodgy though, thats the inner wing area were discussing here

[Razza]

As an update to this I've had time to have a proper look. It seems that the brake disk cover (is there such a thing?) on the front left behind the actual disk has crumbled and come off. There seems to be a short wire with what looks like a sensor of some kind at the end hanging loose behind the brake disk (something to do with ABS my bro thought?) which was previoulsy clipped to the unidentified crumbled metal. I've tied this to the brake cable to keep it out of the way for know.

Is this an urgent repair job?, everthing is working ok to my knowledge and I've got a lot on for the next 2 weeks but the MOT is up and the end of the month and the Mrs will kill me if its got to into the garage again

The back wheels appear to have these covers behind the disks but the front right has never had one to my knowledge and as I've mentioned I've just lost the left one - its the dangling cable / sensor thingie that's bothering me

Sorry to have rambled - would appreciate it if anyone has any thoughts or advice - thanks

[Martinaston]

It could just be the breakpad wear sensor.
If it has a plug about 5 inches from the caliper it's the wear sensor.
If the wear sensor is not fitted you will just have an open ended connector behind the disc

Does the car have an ABS system ?
If you do you should have two wires running down the suspension leg.
The sensor should be bolted to the bottom of the suspension leg.
There a bit more expensive to replace and will cause the ABS light to come on if not in the right place.

If the rusting bit your talking about is the sheild thats parrallel to the disc, you have to remove the front hub to replace it and the hubs can not be reused so it will cost a few quid to put right.

[Ant]

ahhhhhhhhhhhhh

its the backplate/stone guard,

remove the offending item and tie the pad wear sensor loom up out of the way.

TBH I'd not bother refitting them, neither of mine has them them refitted after a hub swop, nothing for stones to jam against and better airflow around the brakes to boot

[Razza]

Zoners to the rescue again, cheers guys, upon closer inspection I realised that it must be something relatively minor but I've had it with repairs - just had 2 panels resprayed, a new bonnet and a full service so funds are low and when you hear a "clunk" and a big lump of metal falls out the bottom of the car you fear the worst.

Cheers again