Sqeaking after break job

[spta97]

Hi,

I replaced the front rotors and pads on my 2000 5.0 this weekend and I'm getting a horrible sqeaking sound from the passenger side. It almost sounds like the wear indicator but the pads and rotors are brand new. I took it apart again tonight trying to find the cause. I checked the brake sheild to see if it was touching the rotor but it wasn't. I reseated everything and could not find what the problem was. Everything is lubed up with caliper grease and I torqed all the bolts according to my Haynes manual.

The sound is a constant sqeal (like the pads are resting on the rotor or the rotor is hitting something while spinning) and gets louder when I hit the brakes. Does anyone have any ideas on what this can be? I'm loosing my mind with the sound and I'm afraid I'm doing damage.

The rotors are from Autozone as well as the pads (I went with ceramic because of the low noise claim )

Please help me!

 

[mabulok]

Can you reproduce the sound with the front end jacked up and the wheel off, spinning the rotor and listening for the source. Did you lube the backs of the pads? And top and bottom edges? Does it have anti-rattle clips installed? If one pad is dragging you might have to remove the caliper centering bolts and clean and lubricate them. Check the alignment of the pads...maybe they're hitting the outer edge of the rotor, where the metal is rough.

 

[FJC]

Did the calipers pistons return in without any problem?(sticking caliper holding pad too close to rotor and heating pad and rotor)I have had problems with low quality pads (cheap) in the past and I allways use factory pads now and never have squeals anymore.I have used rotors from autozone(adap) and they have been fine.FJC

 

[spta97]

Can you reproduce the sound with the front end jacked up and the wheel off, spinning the rotor and listening for the source. Did you lube the backs of the pads? And top and bottom edges? Does it have anti-rattle clips installed? If one pad is dragging you might have to remove the caliper centering bolts and clean and lubricate them. Check the alignment of the pads...maybe they're hitting the outer edge of the rotor, where the metal is rough.

I was able to reproduce the sound once but it is tough to spin the wheels very fast. When the caliper was removed the sound went away and it looked like it was coming from either the pads on the surface of the rotor or the edge of the rotor touching the clip that is attached to the caliper.

I sprayed the backs of the pads with disc-brake quiet and lubed them with caliper grease (lubed all contact points on the caliper and pad holders as well) It does have the anti-rattle clip and according to the manual that pad goes on the inside of the rotor. One thing I did last night is I held the rotor on with 3 inverted bolts as I was putting the pads and caliper back on (I hadn't done that during the initial install). Still no luck. The strange thing is the driver side is fine.

Is it possible the pads or rotor is defective?

 

[spta97]

Did the calipers pistons return in without any problem?(sticking caliper holding pad too close to rotor and heating pad and rotor)I have had problems with low quality pads (cheap) in the past and I allways use factory pads now and never have squeals anymore.I have used rotors from autozone(adap) and they have been fine.FJC

I used my c-clamp and an the old pad to push the piston back in. It went in with the same force that the driver side did (there are 2 pistons on each caliper). My factory pads were chewed to nothings and I thought the ceramics for $50 would be better. I was listening again today and it sounds horrible. When appling the brake the passenger side sounds worse than it did yesterday.

 

[mabulok]

Is your anti rattle clip on the lower end of the inside pad? From what you've described, it sounds like you may have already found the problem. You said it seems to be coming from the edge of the rotor touching the clip attached to the caliper, or the pads on the surface of the rotor. I would pull both caliper mounting bolts and clean them up and lubricate them. That way you'll eliminate the possiblity of the pad binding on one side. And while you're there, look for something that is either out of place, or bent and touching the rotor. I just did my 2000's brakes two weeks ago, and I can't think of anything else that could cause it. Your just gonna have to go back in there until you find it. Good luck.

 

[spta97]

Ok, so last night I figured I'd stop by AutoZone and show them the problem. I was so out of ideas the only option left was a defect with the pads or rotor. I talked to the guy behind the counter and had him come out to the parking lot to have a listen. While I was backing it out of the spot he went toward the back of the car. I said "No, I didn't touch the rears it's the front". Sure enough the sound was coming from the rear brakes!

I had not even thought to look because when I bought the car (used, 26k miles) the rotors were warped and they told me that they replaced the pads all around and resurfaced the rotors. Well when I took it apart the back of the pad had NOTHING left on it! It was metal on metal and my rotor was grooved like a vinyl record. I was so po'ed at the dealer for blatantly lying to me but what are you gonna do. It would be hard to prove that it wasn't caused by binding or something else but I can't imagine that a pad in the rear would completely disintegrate in under 10,000 miles.

I had some difficultly with the rears until I upgraded from a rubber mallet to a 16 ounce framing hammer . The first side took 40 minutes and the 2nd side took 10. I'm happy to report though my squeaking is gone! I feel stupid but all worked out in the end. Thank you for all your replies and please STAY AWAY from this dealership:

Hempstead Ford - Long Island, New York :fire:

 

[FJC]

Glad to hear you straightened it out.When I said cheap pads I meant the "ten dollar lifetime warrenty" ones. I have read good things about the ceramics. Even the cheap pads would most likely last longer than 10K if you could handle the squeal for that long! You have to watch the dealers and shops if they can screw someone it seems like they do.Hopefully there is a few that wont. FJC

 

[spta97]

Thanks. Although the guy at Autozone said that they have changed the Lifetime to "Limited" because people were just exchanging pads when they wear down. After a few miles on the new fronts and rears it's amazing how much better my X stops. I'm glad I was able to finish it by the weekend because I had to drive down to the city. If nothing else, I learned to make sure to check the rear brakes when doing a brake job