Brake Squeal

[SHL]

Any recommendations on which cleaner/spray to use for front brake squeal? (note: discs are fine and brake pads are 3 years old with 8mm remaining)

 

[UrBaN963]

@Pineapple Smurf usually recommends cooking oil but I do not agree with him.

You could get brake cleaner like this

Takealot

www.takealot.com

 

[Pineapple Smurf]

@Pineapple Smurf usually recommends cooking oil but I do not agree with him.

You could get brake cleaner like this

Takealot

www.takealot.com

 

[Cius]

Just be careful. Brake pads seldom make a noise unless they are near the end. Some cars wear down brake pads at different rates. Had a persistent squeel on my wife's Balade. Had both a mechanic check the pad thickness and I did too and it seemed fine however we only ever checked the one tire. When I eventually got sick of the noise and replaced the pads I found 1 pad on the other side had been wearing much faster than the others and it was metal on metal. Now that I am aware when I hear the noise (note they are designed to be noisy when almost done) I can replace them. I am keeping the pads that where still good for a while so that I can still get wear out of them just replacing the one that wears faster for future changes.

 

[Solitude]

Just be careful. Brake pads seldom make a noise unless they are near the end. Some cars wear down brake pads at different rates. Had a persistent squeel on my wife's Balade. Had both a mechanic check the pad thickness and I did too and it seemed fine however we only ever checked the one tire. When I eventually got sick of the noise and replaced the pads I found 1 pad on the other side had been wearing much faster than the others and it was metal on metal. Now that I am aware when I hear the noise (note they are designed to be noisy when almost done) I can replace them. I am keeping the pads that where still good for a while so that I can still get wear out of them just replacing the one that wears faster for future changes.

That's interesting.

My brakes are also squealing at the moment. I don't drive that much however and the car is basically gathering dust in the garage. So recently it went for the yearly service and I asked them to have a look at it and they said the brakes look fine. I hope they are right!

 

[Sinbad]

Just be careful. Brake pads seldom make a noise unless they are near the end. Some cars wear down brake pads at different rates. Had a persistent squeel on my wife's Balade. Had both a mechanic check the pad thickness and I did too and it seemed fine however we only ever checked the one tire. When I eventually got sick of the noise and replaced the pads I found 1 pad on the other side had been wearing much faster than the others and it was metal on metal. Now that I am aware when I hear the noise (note they are designed to be noisy when almost done) I can replace them. I am keeping the pads that where still good for a while so that I can still get wear out of them just replacing the one that wears faster for future changes.

metal on metal is different to a squeal though

I trust that you lubricated everything that needed to be done to prevent the uneven wear again (like slider pins)

 

[SHL]

Just be careful. Brake pads seldom make a noise unless they are near the end. Some cars wear down brake pads at different rates. Had a persistent squeel on my wife's Balade. Had both a mechanic check the pad thickness and I did too and it seemed fine however we only ever checked the one tire. When I eventually got sick of the noise and replaced the pads I found 1 pad on the other side had been wearing much faster than the others and it was metal on metal. Now that I am aware when I hear the noise (note they are designed to be noisy when almost done) I can replace them. I am keeping the pads that where still good for a while so that I can still get wear out of them just replacing the one that wears faster for future changes.

Noted. Had both sets checked and both are fine.

 

[Cius]

metal on metal is different to a squeal though

I trust that you lubricated everything that needed to be done to prevent the uneven wear again (like slider pins)

Thanks for the tip. Will look up how to do that.

 

[Paul Kemp]

Cheap brake pads? I’ve got brake squeal and it has zero to do with the discs or pad material.
Cheaper pads don’t come with new clips/pins or the anti-squeal backing which cause them to vibrate. The vibration causes the squealing sound.
You can buy anti-squeal backings but the real lesson here is don’t cheap out on pads because cheap pads + anti-squeal = the price of better pads.

 

[SHL]

Cheap brake pads? I’ve got brake squeal and it has zero to do with the discs or pad material.
Cheaper pads don’t come with new clips/pins or the anti-squeal backing which cause them to vibrate. The vibration causes the squealing sound.
You can buy anti-squeal backings but the real lesson here is don’t cheap out on pads because cheap pads + anti-squeal = the price of better pads.

Original factory fitted pads. Honda CR-V (2018)

 

[Paul Kemp]

Original factory fitted pads. Honda CR-V (2018)

Then I’d guess it’s a different issue to mine. I’m no expert just sharing my findings.
Squeal is vibration though so I’d be inclined to think that it has to do with wear on the clips and pads.

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

Original factory fitted pads. Honda CR-V (2018)

I use brake cleaner spray, you pick up for under R70 at Midas. It's an amazing cleaner to use on breaks and degreasing.



My pads on my 2015 Ballade squeal as they are aftermarket parts. I will try genuine pads next as I'm not impressed with them.

 

[qscwbt]

cut a groove in the pad. It prevents squeal

 

[SHL]

View attachment 1116414


cut a groove in the pad. It prevents squeal

This could possibly damage the structural integrity of my pads. With some pads you can get away with grooving them but with others, chunks of material could break off after making the cut.

 

[TheChamp]

This could possibly damage the structural integrity of my pads. With some pads you can get away with grooving them but with others, chunks of material could break off after making the cut.

Don't they already have a cut?

 

[qscwbt]

If they squeal I cut them. If you lazy do a heat cycle
do 10 emergency stops from 100kmh to 30 kmh. Brake as hard as you can.
After the 10th one drive around for a few minutes so the disks can cool down. Very important to do.

The pads will clean the surface and you will have pad transfer on the disk that will help reduce squeal.

 

[Hemi300c]

Noted. Had both sets checked and both are fine.

In a lot of pads there is a metal bit that starts touching and squealing when the pads are in need of replacing.

 

[Neuk_]

I haven't had squealing brakes since my 9n Polo TDi but I did fit 6 pot Praggia calipers with 330mm discs and I didn't have to drive the car often. My Touareg brakes are scratching at the moment but that is because they need replacement.

 

[pinball wizard]

 

[schuits]

Some say you can put a bit of copper slip on the back of the pads. Probably a short term solution though.