Thread: Rear wheel squealing. Brakes just replaced.

Alright, so I just replaced all 4 rotors and pads a few weeks ago thinking that was causing the squeal. While they needed to be done it hasn't completely gone away. The rear pads were pretty bad so it helped stop the squeal from happening all the time but it still does it while braking. I was also googling other solutions and came across things about the parking break. I had used it recently so thought maybe it was stuck since it's rust. I pushed it down and released it probably a dozen times at different pressures. Still didn't help. Here's a video of what it sounds like outside the car. Did 2 different takes, one that's a little harder braking. I am 99% sure it's coming from the rear drivers side wheel.

*edit* deleted the video from youtube since the problem has been fixed.

Well it sounds like the regular brakes doing the squealing. Check the brake pad shims, make sure they're not rubbing on the rotor when it's applied. If the pads are a tight fit or they bind on the shims it may pull them towards the rotor and squeal. Also check the obvious like marks from anything else rubbing that shouldn't. If it really all checks out, just make sure the rotor/pads aren't glazed. They shouldn't be since they're new, but they glaze over pretty quick if they're sticking and heating up. At work I get this a lot, and the problem is simply that the pads and rotor are very glazed. Taking the glaze off the pads and rotor always fixes it in that case. (and obviously fixing the original problem that caused it, if there was one) Cheap pads will glaze and squeal, and if the driver rides the brakes a lot it can be the same as sticking slides.

Yeah full ceramics usually won't ever glaze. If it is always touching the rotor it's either the caliper/brake hose, caliper slides, or the caliper bracket/shims. But you should be able to tell right away, especially if the wheel turns free after jacking it up.

Worst case scenario the caliper froze up and over the past few weeks you wore your pads all the way down to the metal already. I've seen that before, not from my brake jobs though. Usually that happens when someone just stuffs it with new pads and doesn't lube or clean anything. When I fix that I have to hammer the pads out of the bracket they're in there so good. That happens from rust between the shim and bracket, take the bracket to the sand blaster (on just the spot where the pads ride) put some antiseize where you sand blasted to prevent any more rust from forming and expanding that space, and it's usually fine.

So I found the culprit. Less than 300 miles only around 1-2 months old. Anyway I could have installed this wrong to make the piston bend it? Guy at advanced where I replaced them said it was a mfg defect but just want to double check. At least the squeal is finally gone. I have a quiet car again for the first time in a while.

Looks like the pad jammed in the bracket and the piston broke it. Make sure the new pads move freely. If they don't take the shims off and clean to bare metal.

I cleaned the shims before installing the new ones and no they're the advanced auto pads.

No not the shims themselves, remove the shims and in between them and the bracket is where rust causes the shim to not sit down all the way.
That may be what you meant, but I want to make sure

Originally Posted by SomeDudeAtHome

I cleaned the shims before installing the new ones and no they're the advanced auto pads.

i had a set of those advance pads, they dont do well really. get some centric pads, i got a set now and i like them all but the dust.

Originally Posted by 02NavyBlue

No not the shims themselves, remove the shims and in between them and the bracket is where rust causes the shim to not sit down all the way.
That may be what you meant, but I want to make sure

Hm... my new calipers are powder coated, even in that spot. And it *was* a pain to seat the shims and pads...

ive used a angle grinder to open up the U grooves in the pads when they just dont f ing fit/ slide right. this is only if cleaning and grease dont fix it.

i had one set that wouldn't even fit square with the slider hardware missing. this was on my 03 gmc. had to do it to a 05 silverado too.

just make sure the new pads slide freely when you put them in the bracket, if they bind up at all theres a issue.

The rotors I bought there are wearever and the pads might have been the same I can't remember. Is that the advanced brand?

wagner thermoquiet® brake pads are the cheap o's

ah that would be the brand I bought for the pads. Got the ceramic ones if that makes them any better. I think the rotors were wearever though or something like that. Guess we'll see how long they last. Won't make that mistake again.