Brakes still squeaking!!! WTH???

[12guns]

I've been fighting a "squeak, squeak, squeak" that is pad/rotor contact. I can tap the brakes and it stops. It starts back after i release the brake pedal and drive normally for 50 yards or so. I initially thought new pads and rotors would fix the problem. I have installed Hawk front pads, new hardware kits, repacked bearings, and put on new Centric rotors and it STILL squeaks! I'm confident everything is installed right. I can hear the rear brakes squeal from time to time, but that's from new pads w/o turning the rotors and it's only right before I come to a complete stop.
All pads are new (ish). Calipers are good, no frozen pistons and all move freely.
Any other thoughts? It's not too bad, but with the windows down it's enough to drive me mad.
My only other thought is this: My master cylinder pressureizes fairly frequently, like every couple minutes for in town driving and almost on every start up with brake pressure. Could the MC be going out and not pulling the pistons back like it should?
I'm out of options and am just about to live with it. Any help would be great!!

 

[TrekboxX]

Don't know the problem you're having, other than could be a sticky piston- which you say is good. I am just offering moral support. I freaking hate squeaking! These 100's are cool, but I feel like they need a bath in oil every month to shut them up! Good luck.

 

[12guns]

Well, thanks for the support! You could be right, there may very well be a sticky piston. I "ruled" that out only because they all push back in with ease when changing pads.
I guess there's also a chance the left rear pad could be causing some squeaking, it's hard to really confirm if it's the left front, or left rear. At any rate, I'm working to install my 865's and crank my TB's, so the squeaking will have to wait for now.

 

[Oakleyguy]

I would check the guide pins on the rear as well as the shim plates. My drivers rear was squeaking a bit and I discovered that one of the guide pins had seized. I broke mine loose and regreased it, and the its been silent since (although I replaced the pads at the same time).

Pads can also impact the noise. I've replaced all mine with Hawk LTS pads and loveeee them. Smooth, silent, and good bite and I've run up and down I70 (into and out of the mountains) with them dozens of times without issue.

Edit: saw that you have hawks. I would def check out the guide pins.

 

[12guns]

I replaced the front guide pins several months ago, thinking that may help. It did not, but the hardware kit was messed up at the time. Now the cheap aftermarket guide pins I used may verywell have become messed up. They are aluminum and seem soft. I noticed a few cuts from me twisting to get them out when I changed the pads. I did sand them down w/ 1500 grit and smooth them up a bit. I was hoping new grease would solve that problem, but it may be worth me getting some OEM pins along with checking the rear out. Thanks for the reply!

 

[Oakleyguy]

To clarify, I'm referring to the guide pins for the caliper and not the retaining pins for the pads themselves.

 

[12guns]

I'm not sure I know what pins you are talking about?
I was referring to the "slide" pins that hold the brake pads in. Are there other pins I'm not aware of here?

 

[Oakleyguy]

I'll post up a pic of the service manual tomorrow when I get a chance.

 

[Oakleyguy]

Check out the pciture below. This is the Guide Pin I'm referring to:

NOTE: There are two of these pins, you should check both and regrease as necessary.

 

[12guns]

Well, I think I may have fixed my squeaky brakes! I ran to the car wash the other day and thought I'd rinse off the back side of my rear wheels just for the heck of it. The way our rear rotors and dust shield are designed keep the high pressure rinsing from getting to the back side of the caliper/rotor. I guess there was enough left over mud or dust to case either a sticky caliper or grime somewhere that was dragging.
Anyway, no more squeaking for now! I need to pull/clean/lube the rear hardware, but probably won't mess with it until the next squeaking starts.
Simple fix to an annoying problem. Over a week w/ no squeaks.

 

[TXLX100]

My LX brakes squeal about half the time, usually means it's time for a car wash.

 

[12guns]

Well, I spoke too soon. They started squeaking again today. I may clean one caliper at a time and see if I can narrow down the noise. It's not the normal brake squeal when applying the brakes. It's a squeaking coming from what I think is one spot in one or more rotor. They are quiet when braking, but after take off, a few seconds go by, and they start the squeaking....then if I stay off the brakes for a minute or so, it will go away as the pistons retract a bit more inside the caliper.
I've bleed the brakes a few times and my last resort is cleaning/lubing the rear brake hardware and checking the pistons for a frozen piston. For now, I'll go spray it down again and hope it stays gone for another week!

 

[Oakleyguy]

I strongly recommend checking and lubing all the hard wear. After I found and corrected the seized guide pin I haven't heard a single noise from my brakes.

Good luck

 

[12guns]

Was it your front or rear giving you problems??

 

[12guns]

I may have fixed my problem. I pulled the rear pads, they were in pretty bad shape. There was alot of pad material left, but they were nasty and starting to sepearte from their backing. I replaced them w/ a ceramic pad and cleaned/lubed up all the hardware. The slide pins were also dirty and one was sticky with very little hardened grease left. I also pulled the rubber plug and sprayed and cleaned the parking brake shoes and hardware. So far no squeaking and with the Hawk HP pads up front, this thing stops like a race car!
Oh, and with the OME 865's on the back, I don't have near as much nose dive anymore. Fingers crossed that my squeaking is gone.

 

[12guns]

Yep. Squeaking gone and brakes are awesome!