Annoying screeching brakes

Venom Rush

Venom Rush

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When I bought my car in March this year I had the brakes (discs and pads) replaced as part of the used car guarantee (anything wrong with the car will be fixed/replaced free of charge).

Two months down the line my brakes started screeching when braking softly. It then started making rough grinding sounds depending on how hard I would brake and the speed I was going (usually when almost completely stopped).

I contacted the dealer about this and they said that it's that the brake pads are no longer manufactured with some soft material (forget the name) because of some law that's passed preventing the use of it for environmental reasons and that this material has been replaced with something else much harder which is the reason for the screeching. They say they can clean the pads for me but I'm then going to have to get the pads cleaned every two months :wtf:

This, however, makes absolutely little sense to me because if this is the case then every person on the road is going to have to deal with this same problem and I honestly can't see this happening.

A work colleague mentioned to me that it isn't actually the brake pad but the metal bit that pushes the brake pad onto the disc, saying that this metal bit is vibrating very fast against the pad and therefore causing the screech.

I know next to nothing about cars and as long as the thing works I'm happy. How do I go about solving this problem because I'm just about going crazy with the screeching.
 
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Venom, if you dont know much about cars... Well how sure are you that these guys even changed/replaced the break disc / pads in the first place ?
 
SinghDude said:
Venom, if you dont know much about cars... Well how sure are you that these guys even changed/replaced the break disc / pads in the first place ?
Click to expand...

I compared them with the back discs and pads (from what I could see of them) and they looked new.
 
Screeching brakes is probably one of the most irritating things to get fixed. There are many possible causes and your dealer's explanation is a bit simplistic, and if that indeed was the case, all cars on the road would have the same problem.

The dealer most probably replaced the brake pads with a cheap set, which are more prone to screeching than most more expensive brakes, well form my experience anyway. Also it could be that your brake discs have been skimmed a few times and is now wearing thin, which could also lead to the screeching, as per your friends explanation.

I would first replace the brake pads with a reputable brand name, such as Ferodo (or similar quality). If the screeching continues then replacing the discs might have to be your next option, but that will have to happen soon after replacing your brake pads. It is advisable when replacing the brake discs to use new brake pads as well.

If you have some spare cash, have the whole lot replaced (pads and discs) at the same time, that should take care of it....but you never know.
 
When I booked my Polo in for the faulty speedo...I asked them to have a look at my brakes also cause it was screeching like mad and it made me gril (kinda like fingernails on a blackboard). They phoned me later and said the brakes are fine but very dirty and dusty, so they will take the drums and everything else off and give it a good clean. Also had to put in two new pins (dont know what that is). They charged R400.00 for the labour and my brakes are dead quiet now....for now at least. Such a pleasure.
 
hmmm...I'll book it in for a clean then. Hopefully that's all that needs to be done...replacing everything seems pointless considering the were replaced to begin with.
 
Venom Rush said:
hmmm...I'll book it in for a clean then. Hopefully that's all that needs to be done...replacing everything seems pointless considering the were replaced to begin with.
Click to expand...

Make sure you get yourself a set of earplugs thrown in for free :p
 
ocleroux said:
When I booked my Polo in for the faulty speedo...I asked them to have a look at my brakes also cause it was screeching like mad and it made me gril (kinda like fingernails on a blackboard). They phoned me later and said the brakes are fine but very dirty and dusty, so they will take the drums and everything else off and give it a good clean. Also had to put in two new pins (dont know what that is). They charged R400.00 for the labour and my brakes are dead quiet now....for now at least. Such a pleasure.
Click to expand...

Drums? How old is your car?
 
1st: What car are we dealing with here?

Cause: Usually squealing breaks are from dust (which is fine sand) and this turns to a dirty layer of 'glass' on your brake discs. Yes asbestos was better, but is now illegal.

edit: The grinding sound is usually the sign of worn out brake pads. Better get your car to someone you trust to check out your brakes. (I won't bother to mention that this is one of the most important things on your car)
 
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Venom Rush said:
hmmm...I'll book it in for a clean then. Hopefully that's all that needs to be done...replacing everything seems pointless considering the were replaced to begin with.
Click to expand...

I assume your car is quite new so it probably has brake pads and discs, not drums.

I know the noise you're speaking about. Very irritating.

Here's what to do:

Go to any Supa Quick and tell them your brakes are screeching. Watch while they take the tyres off. Check if the brake pads are fine. Hopefully they're a good brand. Ferodo is good but it very hard. Check the brake pads and discs for any obvious wear (warped??). If both are fine. tell them to clean it a bit and spray (special tin) on the pads. Put pads and tyres back on. Do not pay anything. This should be free. Tell them you will monitor it for a couple of days.

If the noise persists, I would say the most likely cause is the discs. That's been my experience. I had this noise on 3 or 4 cars I've owned. On 2 of the vehicles, skimming the discs solved the problem. But it does cost a few hundred so don't do it unneccesarily.

Note to all drivers. When your brakes start making a squeaking noise, take them into a fitment centre like supa quick, tiger wt, etc. They will check it for free. Driving with worn brake pads damages your discs.
 
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Had the same issue, you need to get your disks skimmed possibly to remove any bits of metal through wear and tear. These bits imbed themselves in the pad which can cause the squeaking and scraping sounds when braking.
Ive had my disks skimmed, and the edges sanded down, sometimes the wear is not uniform on the disk, and a little bit on the edge of the disk never wears down as it doesnt touch the pad, leave a little lip which causes issues.

Since then its been ok, although the pads are generally harder than the older ones, and squeaks every now and then, but it works.
 
Carbon_Fibre said:
I assume your car is quite new so it probably has brake pads and discs, not drums.

I know the noise you're speaking about. Very irritating.

Here's what to do:

Go to any Supa Quick and tell them your brakes are screeching. Watch while they take the tyres off. Check if the brake pads are fine. Hopefully they're a good brand. Ferodo is good but it very hard. Check the brake pads and discs for any obvious wear (warped??). If both are fine. tell them to clean it a bit and spray (special tin) on the pads. Put pads and tyres back on. Do not pay anything. This should be free. Tell them you will monitor it for a couple of days.

If the noise persists, I would say the most likely cause is the discs. That's been my experience. I had this noise on 3 or 4 cars I've owned. On 2 of the vehicles, skimming the discs solved the problem. But it does cost a few hundred so don't do it unneccesarily.

Note to all drivers. When your brakes start making a squeaking noise, take them into a fitment centre like supa quick, tiger wt, etc. They will check it for free. Driving with worn brake pads damages your discs.
Click to expand...

Guess what I'm doing this weekend.
 
FrancTheTank said:
1st: What car are we dealing with here?

Cause: Usually squealing breaks are from dust (which is fine sand) and this turns to a dirty layer of 'glass' on your brake discs. Yes asbestos was better, but is now illegal.

edit: The grinding sound is usually the sign of worn out brake pads. Better get your car to someone you trust to check out your brakes. (I won't bother to mention that this is one of the most important things on your car)
Click to expand...

It's an Opel Astra Classic 2005 model (last of this model).
 
I've noticed that when I get my car washed it stops screeching for about 5-10mins of driving (after the car/brakes have dried) and then starts it's annoyance again.
 
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