I replaced brake pads on all four wheels & bled brakes this past weekend. My rotors appear to be in good shape, and I am not knowledgeable enough to be able to visually evaluate the calipers (they are stainless steel aftermarket calipers put on several years before I purchased the car). Prior to this weekend, I had quite a noticeable squeak to my brakes - though no difficulty braking. Immediately afterwards, the squeak was gone & pedal was nice and firm. Over the past week, the squeak has started to return, though now it seems to be primarily in the driver rear wheel. No evidence of leaks at any of the calipers. Any thoughts on whre to start? I'm not terribly concern about safety, since stopping is no problem - the squeak is just annoying.

Todd Worrell

Morehead City, NC

I am not to knowledgeable in this just wanted to saw that i have have mine inspected, master cylinder needed replaced and properly bled, and at this i still have a squeak when coming to a full stop, figure just nature of the beast. sorry i wasn't more help other here will help ya out then i can get smarter too.

L

 THE REAR ROTORS MAY BE HEAT GLAZED. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH AFTER MARKET BRAKES. AN ABRASIVE DISC ON A DIE GRINER OR DRILL MOTOR WILL CLEAN THEM UP AND HELP WITH THE NOISE. OR YOU COULD RESURFACE THE ROTORS, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY NECESSARY TO GO THAT FAR.

                                   REID '72 T-TOP

Did you install the "anti-skweek" pads onto the new brake pads? Most quality pads will have them. If not, you need to use your old ones, if possible.

It could be just the compound of the pads, also. Some are just skweek prone, especially the metallic pads. If the rotor surface is not just right, they will skweek.

I always take some emory cloth, or even a grinder, and put a chamfer on the front and rear edges of the new pads. This really helps. Some new pads come already chamfered, some don't.

Just a couple of quick ideas...

Two solutions:

1. Turn up the radio

2. Spray some WD40 on the rotors.

JUST KIDDING!!!

I think it is the metalic pads. Not as forgiving as the old aspestos pads. They squeek, but you won't get cancer of the lung. Unless you smoke....your tires.

My left front started this summer. It squeaks at low speed. This winter I will pull the pad and sand the pad surface. I will also give Joel's idea a try.

Could the "skweek" not be pad related? How about rear wheel bearing? Mine "Skweeked" once..Left rear bearing?? I da no..Sometin to check..

Thanks for the input - these are carbon-metallic pads - not terribly expensive (I think they are PFS or some brand such as that - AutoZone). Cost about $30 per set of 4 pads.

Joel, I plead ingnorant - what is a chamfer?

One other thing - drove home last night through some flooded streets (thanks to Ernesto) and no brake (or bearing?) noise today  

Todd

Chamfering the edge just means to file the right angle edge off the pad to closer to a 45 degree angle.  I'm assuming it will allow the pad to "ride" the rotor better, with less inclination to "grab" at the edge.

Joel?  Close?

[QUOTE=vettedreams79]

Todd

Chamfering the edge just means to file the right angle edge off the pad to closer to a 45 degree angle.  I'm assuming it will allow the pad to "ride" the rotor better, with less inclination to "grab" at the edge.

Joel?  Close?

[/QUOTE]

Exactamundo!!!!

When you drove thru the water, it quieted the skweek, at least until the water dried out. This is definitey a pad skweek. I would git rid of the carbon/metallic pads, to start with. You really don't need that type of friction element on your car, unless you do a lot of autocrossing. Go with a regular, semi-metallic pad. You'll be mooch happier.