I always keep the car "in-gear" when I park it in my garage.

Today when I went to drive it, I took it out of reverse gear, dropped the handbrake and started the engine, but the car would not roll on its own.

This was strange, since it should be rolling since the garage is slightly inclined.

Well, I put it into 1st gear and heard a loud "pop" as the car started to move. Anyone have any idea what could've happened?

 

Brake pads rusted to the rotors. I notice it after I wash the car or if it's raining when I park the car. The next morning, there's a loud pop as the pads pop loose from the rotors.

Brake dust builds up between the pad and rotors. Because it stays wet in there, a thin layer of rust forms. If you look at the rotors after you move the car, you'll probably see some rusted areas in the shape of the brake pad left on the rotor.

I'm betting that's what you're experiencing.

 

Thanks for replying. I doubt it's rust, as the car is an '08 with barely 500 miles on it. I did wash the car before I put it away in the garage though. Does the brake pad make contact with the rotors, while stationary?

"The next morning, there's a loud pop as the pads pop loose from the rotors."
I thought the pads only make contact with the rotor when pressing the brake pedal down.

 

Be cautions about the hand brake when the weather is wet and freezing. Hand brakes do freeze ON.

 

The rust from brake dust has nothing to do with age. The fine dust rusts almost within minutes of getting wet. Your pads sit on the surface of the rotors, with minimal pressure applied to them. The surface tension of water can easily allow it to stay in that small gap long enough to rust up to the rotors.

I guess the easiest way to test it is to move the car slightly in the morning, if you hear the pop, get out and look at the rotors and see if they are smooth and clean or if they have what looks like rust spots.

 

This happens in my beater all the time. The scary part is my e-brake has never worked... they rust with the brakes completely open! It shouldn't do any long term damage though, that small amount of rust will burn right off the first time you tap the brakes. Unfortunately it ends up on your wheels....

 

Sorry, I don't mean to be mean, but I had to laugh at this.

But yes, Dave is correct about the pad rusting to the rotors after a fresh wash. My car does it all the time when I wash it in the drive way, pull it immediately in the garage, dry it, then leave it there. A few hours later or even then next morning, it takes a little gas to get it to "pop" the rust bond when I back it out. It's completely harmless...

 

i'd check under the car to make sure nothing is loose and snagging a wheel or something. Or if it is just when you first start it yur e-brake is probably froze. I too doubt rust would make that loud of a pop...

 

Its the pads sticking to the rotors. You stop the car doesn't roll at all and the pads are still pressed against the pads. The more aggressive the pads the louder the pop.