Brake noise: Can it be stopped?

[badtlc]

I have a 2007 Escape XLS 2.3L ATX. A few months back the front disc brakes got new pads and turned rotors. It was done by a shop (yeah i know, bad idea). Anyway, I think the new pads are the duralast ceramics. The reduction in brake dust has been amazing. The rotors were turned and brake fluid was flushed at the same time.

Anyway, to the problem. I tried bedding them in when I first got it home. I didn't go full bore but was able to do some 30 to 5 braking about 6 or 7 times. The problem is when the brakes are cold, they have a really loud high pitched squeak or squeal like two hard surfaces coming together. After about 1 or two stops from 10mph and the noise completely goes away. Obviously, once the brakes warm up a bit, everything is great.

Is there any way to prevent the noise when the pads are cold or is it just nature of the beast?

 

[OilNerd]

When my backwoods mechanic still lived in the area, he came over and tapered the edges of my pads with a bench grinder and put anti-squeal compound on the back of the pads, which cured the squealing problem on my Olds.

My pads were metallic, so I don't know how well the bench grinder method will work on ceramic pads.

 

[mopar_monkey]

Originally Posted By: OilNerd
When my backwoods mechanic still lived in the area, he came over and tapered the edges of my pads with a bench grinder and put anti-squeal compound on the back of the pads, which cured the squealing problem on my Olds.

My pads were metallic, so I don't know how well the bench grinder method will work on ceramic pads.


x2 i use crc brake quiet on every brake job i do, and have yet to have any noise complaints.

 

[tom slick]

Around here that noise due to a little rust forming on the rotors over night. I wouldn't worry about it, so what if the first stop of the day makes a little noise?

 

[TallPaul]

noise is one thing, but I have one vehicle where in wet weather the brakes get grabby.

A little WD 40 will fix that noise for a while, might also fix the grabby brakes for that matter--hehe

 

[badtlc]

Originally Posted By: tom slick
Around here that noise due to a little rust forming on the rotors over night. I wouldn't worry about it, so what if the first stop of the day makes a little noise?


Yes, I think that is most of it. Humidity here is high enough rotors get a layer of oxidation when they sit more than 4 or 5 hours.

It is just kind of annoying if we are downtown or something and get in the car after dinner it squeaks as we drive through the slow traffic areas because we can't fully stop and can't scrub enough speed to warm them up. It is definitely not intolerable.

 

[rslifkin]

My mother's 99 Grand Cherokee has had a squeak in the right rear brake, much like yours, since the last time the pads were replaced (by a shop). If I get on the brakes hard enough a couple times, they get warm enough to stop squeaking. Once they're used lightly for a few minutes, they cool down again and start squeaking. I told her to just live with it, as it's not a real problem.

 

[badtlc]

Originally Posted By: rslifkin
My mother's 99 Grand Cherokee has had a squeak in the right rear brake, much like yours, since the last time the pads were replaced (by a shop). If I get on the brakes hard enough a couple times, they get warm enough to stop squeaking. Once they're used lightly for a few minutes, they cool down again and start squeaking. I told her to just live with it, as it's not a real problem.


Mine definitely isn't that bad. It doesn't take much at all to get it to go away and once it does, it doesn't come back unless the car sits for a few hours.

Thanks for the input.

 

[willix]

This is one more reason why carbon metallic pad material is preferred over the ceramic "hype".

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: mopar_monkey
Originally Posted By: OilNerd
When my backwoods mechanic still lived in the area, he came over and tapered the edges of my pads with a bench grinder and put anti-squeal compound on the back of the pads, which cured the squealing problem on my Olds.

My pads were metallic, so I don't know how well the bench grinder method will work on ceramic pads.


x2 i use crc brake quiet on every brake job i do, and have yet to have any noise complaints.



I always use the Permatex spray and never have brakes that make noise, ceramic, or metallic. I'd give the Permatex spray a shot. Or bring the car back and let the mechanic who did the job fix the problem.

 

[badtlc]

Originally Posted By: willix
This is one more reason why carbon metallic pad material is preferred over the ceramic "hype".


Do those dust more?

 

[spasm3]

I use rtv silicone on the backs of my brake pads. I NEVER use any pad advertised as ceramic!! I use Hawk pads,or performance friction. I really dont worry about dust ( i live on a dirt road anyway) , i like my vehicles to brake well, rather than look good and brake poorly.

 

[SteveSRT8]

it is a myth to get both good performance and no dust.

Choose one.

Brake pads are like ice cream, over a million flavors.

And 'ceramic' is a marketing term now, may only be .01% of the formula, but it will be heavily advertised as such.

 

[Propflux01]

Try going to an area of non-traffic, put the veghicle in reverse, and while backing up, lightly hold the brakes while the car is still moving. We called this a "poor mans deglaze" when I worked on semi-tractors. It would cure a surprising number of squeaky-braked trucks!

 

[mechtech2]

Don't use RTV on the back of the pads.
Use the right sauce - brake anti squeal sauce. It works very well, and will almost assuredly fix this minor problem.

 

[SLCraig]

Originally Posted By: willix
This is one more reason why carbon metallic pad material is preferred over the ceramic "hype".


I gotta be honest, I totally agree. Always go metallic pads. I love the way my car stops, and always zero noise.

 

[fdcg27]

TallPaul,
Is it your Aerostar that is grabby in the wet?
I ask because ours has always done that as well, from the factory pads to the fourth set (Raybestos) it has on it now.
I wonder if this is a generic Aerostar thing?
demarpaint, does your Aerostar do this?
Not a big thing, it's just that you end up getting a whole lot more retardation than you had expected until you adjust.

 

[willix]

Originally Posted By: badtlc
Originally Posted By: willix
This is one more reason why carbon metallic pad material is preferred over the ceramic "hype".


Do those dust more?
Dusty wheels is not a brake problem. It's a vanity problem.

 

[willix]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Don't use RTV on the back of the pads.
Use the right sauce - brake anti squeal sauce. It works very well, and will almost assuredly fix this minor problem.
Many quality pads have a coated backing shim that eliminate the need for anti noise compound.

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: willix
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Don't use RTV on the back of the pads.
Use the right sauce - brake anti squeal sauce. It works very well, and will almost assuredly fix this minor problem.
Many quality pads have a coated backing shim that eliminate the need for anti noise compound.


Adding to that, some manufacturers specifically recommend against any chemical additives.