Brake Squeek Advice

[Coastal]

At 50k my the squeel tabs on my front brakes were begining to make some noise so I took her in for a brake job. the shop replaced my front pads and turned the rotors. got her back and had a squeek in the driver side front everytime the wheel rotated over about 5 mph all the way up to 35 mph or so....so I took it back in and they deglazed the front rotors and put ceramic pads on - the damn thing is still squeeking! The squeeking stops when i turn going thru a curve and also when i touch the brakes....

This is a reputable mom & pop shop that we have been going to for about 15 years and they didnt charge me the 2nd time in (only an upcharge of $20 for the ceramic pads)... so i know they will take a look at it again, but the guy has to think i am crazy as it is difficult to hear / barely noticable when he rode around with me at his shop in traffic; and there is nothing for the sound to bounce back against - but it is very noticeable when driving thru my parking garage at work, or in the neighborhood in the am...

Any advice / suggestions? Anyone else had an issue like this? Also, this does sound like brakes and not a bad bearing (which they repacked when they did my brakes the 1st time)....

 

[Gene3x]

That has happened to me with other trucks and what solved the problem was putting the grease that came with the pads on the back (which I had never used before).

 

[Campfire]

Brake squeel is a nightmare sometimes. I've found that Honda has some of the best grease compound for the back of the pad. Nissan also makes some awesome "Gold Grease", but at $50 a can, it is gold. Making sure that the shims are placed correctly is a critical step with the grease applied over the entire shim surface. The red and blue silcone "anit-squeel" compound from Pep Boys, etc. only makes things worse in most cases.

 

[SINCITY100]

NEVER let a shop install aftermarket pads on your Toyota !!

Not only are the 3rd party brake pad materials poorly matched to the Toyota Rotors (which can cause squeels, groans, shudders and all kinds of other scary words)..but they can also warp/wear your rotors out MUCH faster than factory pads..

Not to mention.. poor heat dissapation, increased stopping distances...etc...

That very well may be what your problem is with the noise.. unless something wasnt installed propoerly ?

 

[Gene3x]

So the factory pads are better than the best ceramic pads or any other pads out there? Mine are going to need replacement soon and I was gonna go with the best ceramic one I could find. Not advisable huh?

 

[SINCITY100]

So the factory pads are better than the best ceramic pads or any other pads out there? Mine are going to need replacement soon and I was gonna go with the best ceramic one I could find. Not advisable huh?

Well Gene, The problem is that you never know what your getting when buying 3rd party pads..One brand may be "decent"..another may be really poor...

Even two boxes on the shelf from the same "brand" might have come from different suppliers/countrys, I.E., quality control is not always consistant..

Lifetime warranty pads are the worst culprit of all...these pads tens to be made from the hardest materials available...which, in turn makes them last a LONG time...problem is..SOMETHING has to wear, and if it isnt the pads..its gonna be the rotors !!

Toyota pads are engineered for optimum performance and will keep noise and vibration to a minimum

..Yes, they are a bit softer material and will wear a bit faster..but I would rather change pads once in a while, than MAJOR brake components !

 

[Campfire]

Lifetime warranty pads are the worst culprit of all...these pads tens to be made from the hardest materials available...which, in turn makes them last a LONG time...problem is..SOMETHING has to wear, and if it isnt the pads..its gonna be the rotors !!

Toyota pads are engineered for optimum performance and will keep noise and vibration to a minimum

..Yes, they are a bit softer material and will wear a bit faster..but I would rather change pads once in a while, than MAJOR brake components !

Way to go Sin! Your keeping up with Dan. It's always nice to hear a good parts guy believe in the product. I was putting the front diff on a Sunday when I noticed the pads were shot. Ran down to my respected parts house, and grabbed a set of Wagner's. Hasn't been the same since! I'll swap out the non OE's soon.

 

[SINCITY100]

Way to go Sin! Your keeping up with Dan. It's always nice to hear a good parts guy believe in the product. I was putting the front diff on a Sunday when I noticed the pads were shot. Ran down to my respected parts house, and grabbed a set of Wagner's. Hasn't been the same since! I'll swap out the non OE's soon.

Thanks camp..

Unfortunately, You see first-hand why a/market pads generally suck !

Years ago, on my very first Toyota, I found out the hard way (buying cheaper pads, then having to toss them after only a few thousand miles to buy O.E.) ..and will NEVER make that mistake again !

Not a shameless plug for Genuine Toyota Parts...just a reality !

BTW..I will save the shameless plugs for later

 

[SWUtah]

Are you sure it isn't a wheel bearing?

 

[Campfire]

Are you sure it isn't a wheel bearing?

Good point! Don't condem the brakes before your sure. I've had wheel seals squeel too that drove you nuts. Nissan even had a Tech Bulletin on the Pathfinders for noisy inner wheel seals.
That's one problem with these forums, the sound. Drive it closer to the computer so we can hear it better.

 

[Coastal]

Bad Bearing?

Guys - thanks fpor all the feedback. I guess it is not clear my last sentance was a question, not a statement. Could this be a bad bearing?

The fact that the noise stops when I brake or turn makes me think not .........OI took off the tire last ngihtand couldnt see anything with the naked eye however I figure it has to be something dragging or maybe the pad is just barely touching the rotor???? It almost looks as if the caliper is mounted too low and just barely touching the hub (if this makes any sense at all). It doesnt make the noise when the truck is jacked up and the front wheel is off the ground and spun by hand

 

[Gene3x]

Thanks for the feedback. That does make sense.

 

[SWUtah]

When was the last time the wheel bearing were repacked? If it is over 60K miles it really needs to be done. Suppose to repack ever 30K miles. Also if it is due when you take every thing off to do the repack you might ID a problem with the front brakes if there is one.

 

[Coastal]

bearings

bearings were repacked about 1500 miles ago when I had the brakes done the first time - truck is '00 with 56k miles

 

[SINCITY100]

As I mentioned...Go grab a set of OE Toyota pads, and your problems are over.

 

[Coastal]

SINCITY - appretiate the advice - i wll pick up new OEM pads on Saturday and see if that does the trick.... what i dont get is why any pad would squeek when the brakes are not applied at all (and stop when brakes are touched) - I guess it will remain a mystery!

 

[SINCITY100]

Lets assume that everything required is present and properly installed..(shims, retainers, springs, pads..etc..)

When your foot is not actually on the brake, the pads are still making slight contact with the rotors..sometimes its just a portion of the pad, but there is contact..this is normal.

The harder material pads will have a tendency to produce noise, usually in the form of a squeel or high pitched sound, I would imagine its because the harder pad itself is not "absorbing" the slight friction due to the minimal contact (?)..
..This is what I mean by "Matched" materials between pads/rotors

I`ve seen it more than few (thousand) times with 3rd party pads, both on Toyotas and other makes..

Obviously, proper installation is the KEY to reducing any type of noise or problem when fitting new pads, especially the application of "anti squeel" to the back of the pads, and the correct position of the shims and springs that retain the pads in place, but pad QUALITY and MATERIALS (O.E. Toyota) is equally as important for optimum performance of the brake system.

Good luck, and let us know the outcome !

 

[057 LX 470]

Grabby Brakes

I bought a 2000 Lx with 53,000 miles. When brakes are applied it feels like the rotors are warped but with more of a grabbing sensation especially at lower speeds. I wonder if this has to do with non OEM pads. It is most prominent when the emergency brake is pulled. If the rear rotors are warped ? How are they removed ? Had the calipers off to look at the pads but wasn't sure how to get the rotors off.

Your help would appreciated!

 

[YinDW]

grabby brakes:
I dismounted all of my tires and re-tightened them with a torque wrench. grabby brakes gone...

 

[YinDW]

Sincity100,
I have the same problem (noise) but with the rear pads. I noticed the noise the next day after replacing with NAPPA's pads.

I need to verify the shim installation before chucking the 3rd party pads. (budget) What is the proper arrangement?