Siemens GO.All: patient table howls and grinds when lowering
What happened
When the patient table was lowered, it produced a loud howling and grinding noise. No error codes were reported in the case.
What was checked
- Reproduced the noise by running the table down and traced it to one of the table brakes, not the drive.
- Inspected the brakes: one did not release fully during movement, and its friction plates showed wear.
Cause
One of the table brakes did not release while the table was moving. It dragged constantly, its friction plates wore out, and this friction produced the howling and grinding during lowering.
What was done
The engineers first removed the brake, cleaned it and shortened its clamping spring as a temporary measure. Reported in the case, the noise returned after about a month, so the brake mechanism was finally replaced as a complete assembly, which solved the problem.
Safety
A patient table is a load-carrying assembly that can move under its own weight: before working on the drive or brakes, secure the table against uncontrolled lowering, and after any brake work prove that the brake reliably holds the table before the scanner is returned to use.
Lesson: A grinding noise during table travel usually means a brake is dragging rather than a failing drive — and on a safety part like a brake, cleaning and spring adjustments only postpone the proper fix, which is replacing the worn mechanism.
Covered in the course: CT Service — Level 2: Fault-Finding →
Written from an anonymised case shared by service engineers. It is not a manufacturer instruction and grants no authorisation. Independent note; names are trademarks of their owners.