Loud howl from brakes

[aturyan]

Hi everyone,

I have a '97 Sport, 4.0L SOHC.

For a while now, I have been hearing a very loud piercing howl while braking. It's not the usual "brake dust" squeal, it is much, much louder.

I believe it is coming from the rear, but it's really hard to tell with it being so loud. It only occurs at a certain depression length of the brake pedal, once I press the pedal past that point it stops. If I ride the brakes at that certain point, it will continue to howl unless I push past it or let off the brake. (I think that makes sense)

I have changed both the front and rear brake shoes, and it quit for a little while after changing the rears (maybe 2 days), but started right back up again. I've taken it to two shops, and they don't know what it is.

The only possible thing left that I believe it could be is the emergency brake. It hasn't functioned for a while, but the thing is, I honestly can't remember whether or not the howl started before or after I noticed the emergency brake working.

I'm just looking for suggestions as to what this may be, whether I should change rotors, repair the emergency brake, etc. I'd rather not spend a ton of money on a repair that I don't know will fix the problem.

Sorry for the novel everyone, I just wanted to be perfectly clear on what the problem was. Thanks for any help.

Alan

 

[Jorge]

I have the same problem and I'm not sure what it is because I changed both brake pads for the normal bakes and brake shoes for the parking brake at the same time. My parking brake isn't working properly because it needs adjusting, but I just can seem to get it to stay adjusted right. My guess is that it is the new pads, but I'm not sure. I just can't see how the parking brake could affect the normal brakes. I guess if you wanted to know for sure you could remove the entire parking brake assemby from inside your rotor and see if it persists. Just wanted to let you know you're not alone.

 

[TPLYNCH]

Check the caliper slide pins, and make sure they are lubed properly. If one is sticking, a pad may be hitting the rotor improperly. As you press harder on the brake and apply more pressure, it may be enough to push the pad out properly and that's why the squeal stops. Could also be the caliper itself starting to go. If it does it at slow speed, and you can have someone listen at a parking lot, try to determine which side the squeal is coming from.

 

[aturyan]

TPLYNCH,

Thanks for the quick reply...

If I do figure out which wheel it's coming from, can I tell by just looking at the caliper and brake system whether or not the caliper pins are the problem?

I guess what I'm asking is how would you go about checking what you suggested?

Thanks,
Alan