| Getting rid of an annoying brake squeal and | | | | to make sure the pads fit tightly in the |
| other brake noise is like trying to cure a | | | | calipers. |
| bad case of herpes, which is in fact caused | | | | |
| by a combination of factors that sometimes | | | | QUIETING THE CALIPERS. Cleaning and |
| add up to create noise. | | | | lubricating the caliper mounts can also help |
| | | | dampen vibrations to quiet the brakes. |
| Like everything else automotive, an annoying | | | | Vibrations here can be caused by worn or |
| noise can be one of the first signs that's | | | | loose mounts or mounting hardware. |
| something's wrong, or it might mean nothing | | | | |
| at all is amiss. It's up to you to quickly | | | | NOISY BRAKE PADS. Some pads are noisy than |
| figure out which. Keep in mind that, in most | | | | others. If the original pads are too noisy |
| cases, a persistent noise, even after the | | | | and can't be quieted by insulator shims, |
| brakes have warmed up, indicates that a | | | | noise compound or grease, therefore, |
| repair is in order. To help determine whether | | | | replacing them may be the only way to get rid |
| squealing brakes are simply a nuisance or an | | | | of the noise. |
| ominous sign, here's a quick run-through of | | | | |
| the disc brake action that starts with the | | | | BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENT. Some brands and grades |
| foot on the brake pedal and ends with a | | | | of aftermarket brake linings are quieter than |
| stopped vehicle. | | | | others. So you may have to experiment with |
| | | | several different ones to find the quietest |
| Brake Action | | | | set for a given application. Whether a new |
| | | | set of brake pads need to be broken-in or |
| The pedal pressurizes a hydraulic system that | | | | not, you should still test drive the vehicle |
| pushes the brake caliper pistons out of the | | | | to make sure the brakes are operating |
| calipers, contacting the brake pads and | | | | properly and that your efforts to eliminate |
| pressing them against the spinning brake | | | | the noise problem have been successful. |
| rotors. The contact of the pad's friction | | | | |
| material on the rotors converts kinetic | | | | BRAKE ROTOR RESURFACING. In addition to |
| energy into heat and slows the vehicle. The | | | | replacing the brake pads, it may be necessary |
| obvious first step in the squeal search is to | | | | to resurface the rotors to cure a noise |
| eliminate serious system problems. Brakes do | | | | problem. To brake quietly, the rotors have to |
| not simply failthey deteriorate. One element | | | | be in good condition, relatively smooth and |
| of the system wears and, over time, takes the | | | | flat. |
| rest of the system with it. | | | | |
| | | | DRUMS. One of the leading causes of brake |
| Brake squeal is really a high frequency | | | | squeal in drum brakes is brake dust inside |
| vibration. In disc brakes, it can be caused | | | | the drum. Removing the drum and cleaning the |
| by vibrations between the pads and rotors, | | | | brakes, therefore, may be necessary to |
| the pads and calipers, or the calipers and | | | | eliminate this kind of noise. Use a brake |
| their mounts. In drum brakes, the vibrations | | | | cleaner or brake washer to clean the brakes. |
| can originate between the shoes and drums, or | | | | |
| between the shoes and backing plates. | | | | There are still other causes of brake noises |
| | | | which include weak or loose hardware, and |
| A few tips on eliminating brake noise | | | | vibrations between the shoes and the raised |
| | | | pads on the backing plates. |
| SHAKY PADS . One way to quiet noisy pads is | | | | |