How Far Would You Go To Stop Brake Squeal?

[rh71]

When are you available to do my rotors ?

 

[dman]

I forget which car it was on, but, I believe my camaro I had the squealing after I had someone else do my brakes. I had brought it in for Tire replacement and they pointed out the low pads. Normally I'd say no, but, the price was right so I let them do it.

That was the start of my troubles.

Squeaked to hell, so I brought it back.

"Oh, that's normal, they all do that."
"Um, no they don't, the pads you just changed NEVER squealed"
"Oh, that's because these are a different compound"
"Well I want the ones that don't squeal"
"They don't last as long"
"I don't care, the ones on there lasted me long enough." (I don't want to hear squeaking for even LONGER than what the others lasted for!)

"Well, we don't sell those pads but we'll see if we can get it to quiet down."

So, they sanded the pads and the rotors and sure enough it stopped squeaking. For about 2-3days. Then it started up again. I brought it back once more and they sanded them 'better' but that it would likely happen again. I asked about 'anti-squeal' compound, "Oh we put that on all our pads so that's not it".

Sure enough, maybe a week later this time, bad squealing again.

I delt with it for a while before I ended up replacing the pads myself. When I took off theirs there was NO anti-squeal stuff on the backs. Put on new pads (metallic=hard=can squeal) and used anti-squeal stuff that Roger recommeded above. No more squeaks forever now.

MORAL: That stuff does work well. And never let a tire shop do a 'tackon repair' (for cheap or not) if you can do it yourself.

 

[vtqanh]

This thread is good, i'm learning

 

[Ornery]

Here's something else for you to learn, vtqanh. Apparently, that lube didn't help nuthin'. The squeal just started again today. I picked up some Permatex® Disc Brake Quiet in the aerosol can. Pulled the brakes off again for the fourth time. Cleaned the hell out of the pad backs and calipers. Sprayed this stick-um on and left it set for 10 minutes. Assembled it, drove it up and down the driveway once. I'm leaving it sit till morning just to be sure all is well. It looks like I could have solved this problem for as little as $4.00 by applying this sticky stuff in the first place. No new pads, no turning the rotors, no rear pads, no high temp lube... none of that! Damn! :disgust:

 

[Moonbeam]

Damn, Ornery I forgot to report in. I asked my guy what he used but instead of telling me told me to go to an automotive store and get stop squeal or something like that, just to tell them you want the stuff they sell to quiet break pads, that they would know what to sell me. The breaks are quiet in my cars, fortunately. Don't know why.

 

[Ornery]

I'd say that must be the universal stuff to buy. I've been messing with old beaters for the last 30 years, and this is the first car to give me any brake squeal problems. Oh well, she's got new pads all around and I can get the damn things on and off in a flash now. I learned something new, so it wasn't all bad. Thanks for the verification to you and Roger. That goop will forever be on the shelf in my garage!

 

[Zebo]

Here's what I do and it has always worked.
First I buy the best break pads at checker or whatever store. Usually called "brute stop" or something to that effect. Second I buy some liquid plastic.rubber the stuff you use to cover tool handles and apply about a 2mm film to the
backside of the pad to reduce harmonic vibration. Then I coat all the retainer pins and brackets and dongles with the break pad lube. No problems.