I've had this happen to me twice now over the past decade, on two different cars. Thought I'd share and see if anyone has a fix or can at least explain what is happening.
There is a squeaking sound coming from one wheel, from the disc brake when I am not applying the brake. Touching the brake pedal to eliminate the 'slack' immediately quiets it.
I have tried resurfacing rotors - no help.
I tried sanding the pads down a bit - helped for a few days.
I have tried using grease or Disk Brake Quiet on the backside of the pads, no help at all, it's definitely coming from the friction surface.
I took the pads on the driver's side and swapped them with the ones on the passenger side and the noise followed -- thus it's the pads not the rotors.
All hardware is clean, working well, lubed, there is no sign of overheating, binding, etc.
As I started off by saying, I've had this happen twice now, with the same symptoms. And I'm trying to learn what is happening.
Neither time did this start when the pads were new. It started after perhaps 10,000 to 20,000 miles. In both cases the pads still had at least 50% of material left. In both cases I would say I drive "slightly spirited" but not very aggressive.
Something about the pad material I am guessing changes with time? I would not think it would be a small 'defect' within the pad, otherwise it would have sanded and worn away. Rather once the squeak starts, it only gets louder, albeit very gradually.
It almost seems like the pad 'cooks itself' over time and the composition change becomes more prone to squeak.
Why this happens on one wheel and not the adjacent wheel that has been maintained in the same manner, and why this happens on one car I drive and not another one that has been driven in similar manner, is what puzzles me.
I can probably fix this easily with new pads
but it bugs me.
There is a squeaking sound coming from one wheel, from the disc brake when I am not applying the brake. Touching the brake pedal to eliminate the 'slack' immediately quiets it.
I have tried resurfacing rotors - no help.
I tried sanding the pads down a bit - helped for a few days.
I have tried using grease or Disk Brake Quiet on the backside of the pads, no help at all, it's definitely coming from the friction surface.
I took the pads on the driver's side and swapped them with the ones on the passenger side and the noise followed -- thus it's the pads not the rotors.
All hardware is clean, working well, lubed, there is no sign of overheating, binding, etc.
As I started off by saying, I've had this happen twice now, with the same symptoms. And I'm trying to learn what is happening.
Neither time did this start when the pads were new. It started after perhaps 10,000 to 20,000 miles. In both cases the pads still had at least 50% of material left. In both cases I would say I drive "slightly spirited" but not very aggressive.
Something about the pad material I am guessing changes with time? I would not think it would be a small 'defect' within the pad, otherwise it would have sanded and worn away. Rather once the squeak starts, it only gets louder, albeit very gradually.
It almost seems like the pad 'cooks itself' over time and the composition change becomes more prone to squeak.
Why this happens on one wheel and not the adjacent wheel that has been maintained in the same manner, and why this happens on one car I drive and not another one that has been driven in similar manner, is what puzzles me.
I can probably fix this easily with new pads