Thread: New brakes, odd squeak

Hi all. A few weeks ago I replaced my pads and rotors with new ceramic pads and fancy-schmancy drilled rotors. They have been good at stopping the car, but over the last week or two, I've been getting an increase in squeak from one wheel. I don't think it's a dust shield problem, as it's not a constant squeak. It's most predicable in the morning when the brakes are cold. It will squeak for a bit just as I'm driving along. After warm up, I only hear now at the very end of a stop. Like coming up to a light, it doesn't squeal the whole way, but the last second of a stop will be "squeeeeal".

It's not a show stopper, but I hate that these are pretty new brakes (maybe 700-800 miles), and I find it embarrassing. Any ideas? I lubed the pads pretty well, and this sounds like it's only one wheel in front.

Oh, here's an idea I just had. I had no idea which side the wear bar should be on, so I just guessed. I should have looked at the old pads, but I didn't really think it mattered much. If it does matter, I may have swapped pads. Would that matter at all?

Thanks. That thought crossed my mind, but it's gotten louder after starting off quiet for a few hundred miles. Was that your experience too?

I hate to go through that much work and the shops here charge a ridiculous $20 per rotor. Thanks for the tip though. I'll let them burn in more, or perhaps I'll go though the initial break-in steps again.

Originally Posted by dsmuts

Get up to around 100 or so and slam on the brakes and come to almost a complete stop but don't stop and then do it again and then drive for about 5-10 miles with no stops and then see if it's any better.

Thanks. That was basically how I broke them in, though I did 55 down to 5 as quickly as I could 4 or 5 times. The roads around here are not snow covered anymore, but you never know when you'll find a slick spot.

Actually the manufacture is going to send me a new set of pads. He doesn't think it would have anything to do with the rotors.

I do keep forgetting to double check the dust shield, sadly. But the noise is consistent with braking force, and not really something that I hear when I'm not braking.

well heck if their sending you new pads thats awesome. are they sending you ceramic? and do ya gotta mail em the old ones back?

As for the new rotors a friend of mine who works at oreillys is actually the one who told me that i should resurface the rotors. He explained that the first super thin layer usually needs to wear off to keep it from completely squeaking. Even if you use tons of brake cleaner to remove all the machining oil from the surface. but im not an expert either

Yep, I bought ceramic, and they are sending ceramic. I don't think they want the old ones back. I got new rear pads too because 2 of the first set had been chipped in transit, and they didn't want the old ones back. I took photos to show the damage and emailed them as proof. The squeal is terrible. The vendor kind of implied that I didn't break them in well enough. It's cold here, so getting them hot is harder. I'll double the break in procedure and do 10 hard "almost" stops. Maybe I'll even ride the gas while braking.

So I hesitate to comment on the quality of the product, but the customer service is really good. I know a lot of guys at a truck forum like this brand for their trucks, so I gave it a shot on the car. Hoping that this takes care of it all.

Did you spray the new pads with brake cleaner before install....just checking

I use the stuff.....don't know I didn't think of it??

I did clean everything thoroughly, but I'm wondering if a scotch brite pad wouldn't have been a better idea at first. I could have roughed up the surface.

I also greased everything up real nice. It moves great, but squeals like mad at the end of a stop. It's embarrassing. My truck does this after it's sat for a bit. I bought heavy duty brakes for it, but I haven't pulled much since. I might give this company a try with the truck too. I like the appearance of the rotors and the idea of ceramics. I can say that I've felt these discs after a few trips. They are never more than just a little warm. My old rotors were generally hot. These shed heat nicely.

The new pads seem to have worked. It's been about a week. In the future, I might take a scotch pad to the rotors to rough them a little and get that layer off that others have mentioned.