Disc Brake Squeal

[stepn67]

I just replaced the front brake pads and now after driving about a week on them they are now letting out a really loud squeal when the brakes are applied. I had the rotors turned by a machine shop, cleaned them with a brake cleaner before I put them on, so I think they were clean. Could the machine shop have csrewed up my rotor, or is it because the pads are lower quality. I bought the pads at my local Checker/Kragen Auto. Any ideas on how to make them stop squealing.

[SacramentoJoe]

Did you put anything onto the back side of the pads? There is also a cross buff pad you can use to take the "LP" type grooves off of the rotors.

[stepn67]

Joe, No I didn't put anything on the back of the pads, should I have put some sort of lube on them? Can you tell me a little more about the cross buff pad. Can I get one at the local parts store?

[fastwillie 696969]

you can get a can of brake quite which you brush on the pads and then you go out and really get your brakes broke in by doing some hard braking
did you use any lube on the caliper pins or sometimes if you dont set the pads tabs you will get a squeal noise too
if you think the rotors might be the problem then you need to check for run out any thing over .003 is no go

[shifty]

They have little tubes of crap at the LAPS that you can buy near the counter for 50¢, brake quieting stuff, squirt it on the bak of the pad and re-seat it. Squealing is usually caused by vibration of the pad in the caliper. same way grease or other viscous fluid will stop vibration (reduces friction), adding something to the back of the pad stops the vibration. Some people use shims, some use paste, etc etc. I think the last time I tried this, it was gluey type of stuff.

[bobthecop]

BG makes some stuff that you put on the pad and heat it so it soaks in, guaranteed not to squeal, we used to use it at dealerships, I used it and set the pads in the sun, it was a hot day. Worked for me.

[SacramentoJoe]

Originally Posted by stepn67

Joe, No I didn't put anything on the back of the pads, should I have put some sort of lube on them? Can you tell me a little more about the cross buff pad. Can I get one at the local parts store?

We used to have a small disc that hooked up to the brake lathe to remove the grooves. Basically, the grooves are like on a vinyl record and the pads are the stylus. Use one of the above mentioned products on the pads and make sure to let them dry before re-assembling. You can remove the grooves with a small disc sander.

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

Originally Posted by stepn67

I just replaced the front brake pads and now after driving about a week on them they are now letting out a really loud squeal when the brakes are applied. I had the rotors turned by a machine shop, cleaned them with a brake cleaner before I put them on, so I think they were clean. Could the machine shop have csrewed up my rotor, or is it because the pads are lower quality. I bought the pads at my local Checker/Kragen Auto. Any ideas on how to make them stop squealing.

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I have not turned my rotors for years now. When it's time to replace my pads I purchase the best money can buy. Pads are not expensive any way so why cheap out. Most shops if they replace your pads and rotors they order the best pads and cheap rotors. Why because your better off with an inexpensive rotor then one that's been turned as well as this keeps the price down and the job done right. Turning the rotor to make them true promotes brake fade. I used to use the goop supplied with some pads that I purchased but if your pads and rotors are not true they tend to shimy and make noise.

Check for brake dust as this will cause noise also. How good did you clean out the old dirt and brake dust before installing the new pads?

Some car makers such as Mercedes Benz will not change pads only and will not turn rotors! A brake job with Benz is rotors and pads. Now I can hear you thinking what a tight ass but there is sound logic here. This is you, your family, your buds, and joe public depending on you or me to have a vehicle that will stop properly. Benz does not under mind this and neither should we.

Sorry if I sound like I'm on a soap box but going fast or looking good there is no limit to what we will spend. Safety is #1 and even if you could get rid of the brake noise your truck is trying to tell you some thing and I don't think it's pass the goop please ....

esll.

Front brakes last about 30,000 miles if done right. Paying the extra for saftey is really not all that much extra.

[watahyahknow]

turning down the rotor can cause the caliper cylinders to get pushed out too far so you suddenly loose brakepressure , offcourse this is only when the brakepads are worn verry near to bare metal

i used to work at a garage and put a lot of brakepads in .
we used coppergrease on the back of the pads , you have to reinstall the little plates that the factorie put intoo the calipers behind the pads .
the final thing you can do is bevel the brakepads where the disk comes in / enters the pads .

we used badly fabrikated pads at the shop i worked i always filed the exess paint of the sides so it slid in the caliper without sticking and did the bevel thing to it , never had a customer come back to fix brake squeel

[powell72]

Knock the ears on the top of the outer pads down far enough that you actually have to snap the pads into the caliper and I bet your noise will stop.

Assuming you didn't do this the first time.