This afternoon I went for a drive in my '88 Cabriolet convertible, which has disk front brakes and drum rear brakes. Usually I have a CD playing, but this time I had it turned off.
As a result I could hear automotive noises better, and I heard something that appeared to be coming from the front wheels. The sound (a thump, thump, thump sound) was only noticeable when the car was in motion, whether the car was in gear or in neutral. At a standstill I tried revving the engine, but there was no unusual noises then.
After pulling into my garage I felt the rear drum brakes, and they were cold to the touch. However both front disks (the large diameter metal disks, not the pads) were hot. I could touch them without burning my skin, but they were hot enough to cause pain. The emergency brake was off.
What do you think is the problem, or is this normal? The outside temperature was in the low 40s (Fahrenheit). Could the pads be defective or worn out? I think I remember reading something to the effect that pads will become noisy when they are worn out, and this is apparently built into the design of the pads as a way to warn the driver - but I may be incorrect on this.
Also, could it be something other than the brakes, such as the bearings? The car travels in a straight line, no wobble or tendency to veer to the right or to the left - even at freeway speeds.
Thanks for your insights.