Squealing brakes - HELP

[mjs]

About two months ago, I put a new set of brake pads in my wife's 01 Explorer Sport. Soon after, the brakes started to squeal when you would stop. I figured that it was due to the type of pas I put in (Raybestos), so I went back to the Ford dealer and bought and OEM set of brakes. SAME PROBLEM! At the time, I did not turn the rotors, since they wre not warped and very smooth. It was recommended that I turn the rotors since that was possibly causing the pads to glaze and cauing my sqeaking issue. So...... I pulled the rotors to get then turned. Ended up that the rotors were right at spec and could not be turned. I bought a new set of rotors from Napa at the tune of $90. After about a day, they are doing the same thing again. The sqeal like crazy and are driving me nuts.

Any suggestions? Is there a different type of pad that will solve the problem? I have done dozens of brake jobs on cars and have never had issues like this.

Any help would be apprciated.

MJS
01 Explorer Sport, 2" lift, BFG ATs
03 F350, 35" BFG MTS
02 Mustang Convertible

 

[jgilbs]

i have the same problem. anyone?

 

[CodePoet]

Don't know if it will slove the problem totally, but there is a stop squeel product (comes in a tube) that you can buy at pep boys. That might fix it. Sounds like an awful lot of money begin spent on pads so this might be a cheaper fix. But I really dont' know, just a suggestion.

Good Luck
CP

 

[J. Kennedy]

there is also a sticker you can put on your brake pads. It aborbs the vibration of the pad in the caliper.

 

[Blee1099]

Try changing to another brake compound like ceramic.. Also when you did the brakes, did they or you install the little shims in the brake pads? You could also double check to make sure your calipers aren't grabbing.

 

[DeRocha]

Did you make sure the caliper slides are greased (caliper slide grease) and move ok? Regular grease is Not recommended since it will swell the rubber caliper piston seal (if the grease gets on it) and potentially cause it to fail .

 

[mjs]

OK, let's see.... The pads did not come with any shims so none are installed. The calipers are not sticking, so I am OK there. I did not lube the caliper slides/bolts. What kind of grease should I be using?
I did use the no squeal stuff that goes on the back of the pads and that did not work.

If it solves the problem, I am at the point where I'm OK with buying different pads (ceramic), but I hate to spend more money if it does not help.

Any other possibilities I cantry?

MJS

 

[DeRocha]

You should be able to pickup Brake caliper slide grease at your local auto parts store. The caliper slide is the part of the disc brake assembly that houses the brake pads and the piston. When brakes are applied, the piston pushes on the inboard brake pad. This forces the out board pad to be pulled inward. This is able to happen because the whole caliper bridge is floating on it's mount that is part of the spindle. When rust and dirt collect on the slide, they become harder to move and sometimes stick altogether. Once movement becomes restricted, one or two things may happen, but both resulted in les braking force and premature brake pad wear.

The inboard pad will push against the brake rotor, but since the bridge's movement is restricted, the out board pad will not move towards the other side of the rotor. This causes the rotor to be forced outward, which can cause fatigue and eventual failure of the rotor or hub. A symptom of this is premature inboard brake pad wear. The most common problem is the outer pad not returning to neutral, remaining in contact with the outer side of the rotor, causing it to become overheated and wearing the outer pad prematurely.

Lubing the caliper slides is an often overlooked maintenace item.

 

[mjs]

So, I have taken the suggestions and I still am having the same issues. My existing rotors were right at spec and could not be turned, so I bought new rotors. Still Squealed! Last night I took them back apart, lubed the slides, reapplied the no squeal stuff on the back of the pads, cleaned everything and scuffed up the pads. I out it back together and it was fine for about 20 miles than started to squeal again. I am still getting a tremendous amount of brake dust on the wheels too.

At this point, I am thinking that I will try a set of ceramic pads. Any suggestions on what kind?

I was leaning toward Raybestos QuietStop cermaic PGD833QS Cost=$68
napa also has a set of thier own labeled ceramic for about $85.

MJS

01 Explorer Sport
02 Mustang Convertible
03 F350

 

[bmxking5]

I had that same problem after putting on some Hawk brake pads on my 93 Sport. I talked to some people and they told me to go down an empty street at about 65-70 and slam on the brakes, this will help them finish setting. Ever since then they after done it again. You should try it.

 

[Lee S.]

I was leaning toward Raybestos QuietStop cermaic PGD833QS Cost=$68
napa also has a set of thier own labeled ceramic for about $85.

MJS

01 Explorer Sport
02 Mustang Convertible
03 F350

I have brake squeal also. No suggestions but I was thinking about installing the QuietStop pads as well. I believe they are on sale at PepBoys right now. The circular says as low as $34.99 a set but I'm sure thats not the price for X's. You might want to try them and see if you can get a better price.

If you go with the QuietStop please report back.

Thanks,

Lee

 

[Joes98Mounty5.0]

The Raybestos Quiet stops will work well. They will come with shims on the back of the pads, also apply the brake quite lube generously to the back of the pad and on the two ears where the pad slides on the caliper. Regrease caliper slides as well. You can try setting the brakes, as refered to earlier by braking hard. This will allow the brakes to set well with the rotors. Ceramic pads may not require setting though. Either way the squeel usually comes from metal-on-metal contact on the back of the pad where it comes in contact with the calipers. Good luck.

 

[NYCKid]

Shim-on, shim-on (like she-bang)

I hate to tell ya, but you should put the shims on. I know you've taken those pads off a million times already, but that should do it. The sticky no-squeal stuff is only helping you for a while. That tells me that it's wearing off in those twenty miles and you're getting metal/metal contact again. Have some brew when you get done.

 

[mjs]

Should the Shims come with the pads? The original raybestos ones did not and the Ford ones didn't either.

MJS

 

[NYCKid]

I think so...

I believe so...can't remember. If not, just ask for them at the counter where you got the pads. Shouldn't cost much.

 

[Joes98Mounty5.0]

Should the Shims come with the pads? The original raybestos ones did not and the Ford ones didn't either.

MJS

It depends on which raybestos brakes you get. The PGD and the QS series should come with the shims. Usually they are already attached, but sometimes you have to attach them your self. The just peel off and stick to the back of the pads. Even with the shims, I would still use the goop.

 

[00XLS]

Usually brake squeel is caused by the glazing, try take somethign fine sand paper to the pads and the rotors to take the glaze off of them. spray it down with some brake cleaner, along with some of the grease and the shims. good luck.

 

[mjs]

Update on this issue.

I swapped in a set of the Raybestos QS Ceramic pads and so far, so good. With the other pads, the amound of brake dust on the wheels was tremendous. Now it is virtually non-existant. No squealing so far.

Thanks to all those who helped.

MJS

 

[jgilbs]

if they start squealing again, try lubing the caliper slides - my brakes started squealing after a brake job last year (said i had bad calipers 'looks like someone took a C-clamp to this when they changed the brakes' well, duh. how else are you supposed to compress the piston) and just redid my brakes, lubed the caliper - and the squeal is gone.