why do my brakes squeal?

[MaxDSP]

My dad and I checked the brakes and then a mechanic checked them but there is no wear on the rotors or the pads. The sound can shatter windows, it's so bad. The schreeching is only coming from the front two brakes but can't find anything wrong with it. The mechanic said we might need to bleed some brake fluid and that may solve our problem. How would this help anything, as I don't know much about cars?

 

[Capn]

maybe try some brake grease, that's supposed to stop squeal. And of course I mean brake grease in between the back of the pad and the caliper.

 

[yakko]

Capn is correct. The lack of an anti squeal compound cause the brake pad to vibrate which is what produces the squeal.

 

[TRUMPHENT]

Do some searches on your car make, model and brake problems. Caliper pistons can get jammed with brake dust and road crud. This sometimes causes the squeal. Some models have squealier brakes than others. We at MicroFrost call that a feature, not a problem. At MicroFrost the concept of audible brakes sounds very interesting. Look for the sounds of authentic crashes to accompany the crash of your POS.

 

[MaxDSP]

ill see if that solves the problems in a couple of days. then Ill bring the thread back to life


Thanks

 

[PhiI2e]

What year is the car? On a lot of newer cars, (with disc brakes especially) they put cheap pads on and in heat, the pads expand and it causes a realllly bad squeal. Your only problem may be heat, which you cant affect. Even if the pads arent cheap, they still will expand and squeal. Hope this helps.

 

[rawko]

try turning the rotors

 

[68GTX]

There are a couple different types of brake pads. Organics (wears the fastest but the quietest) semi-metallics (lasts longer but tend to squeal if they become contaminated... (fouled by oil, grease or brake fluid) People mosty use metallic based pads because they are a material similar to the rotors so the pads and rotors wear at an even ratio. They do make an anti-squeal compound which is usually included with your new brake pads but is seldom applied by most mechanics. This compound does little good if applied after the pads have been fouled. If you decide to get new brake pads, make sure that the person doing the work does a good job of cleaning the rotors with brake cleaning solution. Best of Luck.

 

[Robert01]

How do you know it's the brakes and not something like ... an animal?

 

[rawko]

<< How do you know it's the brakes and not something like ... an animal? >>



because it'd probably sqeal when not breaking