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