Brake Squeal?

[DC3]

The brakes on my '73 squeal under light pedal pressure. They don't squeal when the brakes are cold. It gets better when I've done some spirited driving and the brakes are good and hot. They don't squeal when I stop hard or even with moderate pedal pressure. The brakes stop very well, don't pull and in general I am very pleased with their performance. Previous owner did a frame off and put all new brake components on about 8,000 miles ago which also means the components are about 8 years old. I have not done a thorough inspection but a cursory glance last time I had the wheels off showed no scoring or anything obvious.

I tend to be light footed with braking when just cruising around and the squeal has become annoying. Are there any simple remedies to eliminate the squeal?

Thanks,

DC

 

[gr8vet]

Squeal normally = metal on metal, somewhere. Drive faster if you hear banjo music too! Make note if it is a nice even tone squeal or more of a chatter. Could indicate out of round rotors. Front or back??? Also, 8 year old pads if metallic based could cause noise too.

I have found the similar and fixed using "brake noise" reducer. Autoparts store, spray can. Not a lube, but a sticky mess that you spray on the metal to metal joints. Works for me. In the past I have also lubed all joints with grease. Works for a little while then everything starts to stick to it and make a mess.

First thing I would do is change pads.

An old wise drag racer I know, notice, old and wise, told me as long as you can stop and steer, everything else will be ok. Make sure your brakes are in good shape!

Best!

tt

 

[Beagle 1]

You need to apply the anti squeal paste to the back of the pads where they touch the caliper pistons. This is a thick, rubbery liquid type stuff. Not sure of the correct nomenclature, but all auto parts stores carry it.
This is probably the same stuff gr8vet is talking about above, but I've always got it in a small squeeze bottle.

 

[DC3]

Squeal normally = metal on metal, somewhere. Drive faster if you hear banjo music too! Make note if it is a nice even tone squeal or more of a chatter.

It's not a chatter. It's fairly even but I wouldn't call it nice. More like finger nails on a chalk board. Pads are good. IF I hear the type of banjo music you're talking about, the next sound anyone will hear is the sound of my gun cocking.

You need to apply the anti squeal paste to the back of the pads where they touch the caliper pistons. This is a thick, rubbery liquid type stuff.

I had already planned to pick up some anti squeal this coming weekend and put it on since that was my first thought at a cure. I was wondering if there is anything unique about our brake systems that might lead to a squeal. I did find a thread with a google search that suggested beveling the edges of some of the semi-metallic pads.

Thanks for the help.

DC

 

[big2bird]

Your "light" pedal usage has most likely glazzed the pads. Scuff them with sandpaper, spray the backing plates with Permatex anti squel, and reinstall. Some of the new Wagner pads have this preapplied.

 

[DC3]

Your "light" pedal usage has most likely glazzed the pads. Scuff them with sandpaper, spray the backing plates with Permatex anti squel, and reinstall. Some of the new Wagner pads have this preapplied.

They were already squealing when I bought the car about a year ago but my light foot hasn't helped any. I do some spirited driving from time to time but probably not enough. Thanks for the reminder about glazing. I will definitely scuff the pads when I check them.

DC

 

[DC3]

My '73 has a sense of humor. Went out for a bite to eat and a brief cruise last night. Stopped at the parts store to pick up some Permatex anti-squeal. Brakes squealed slightly as I came to a stop at the store. After buying the Permatex, the brakes never squealed again the rest of the cruise. I've never been able to drive that much with no squeal. Go figure. I'm still lubing everything up this weekend if I get a chance. Can't fool me. :suspicious:

DC

 

[DC3]

Finally found the time to address the brake squeal. Brakes were in great shape but there was evidence the previous owner had tried to tackle the squeal. He had used some type of red sealer to seal the piston to the back of the pad and had rigged a small plastic tube on the edge of the metal backing plates where it rubs the caliper. I removed all of that and lubed the piston to backing plate location, the edges of the backing plate where it might contact the caliper, and the pin that secures the pads. I also beveled the edges of the pads with a dremel tool. No more squeal. Life is good. Now I wonder how often I'll have to re-lube and/or re-bevel.

DC

 

[JPhil]

I used "BG Stop Squeal". (BG Part # 860). Little one-ounce bottle, I don't remember now if I used one or two bottles. I think one bottle per axle, 4 pads. Read the instructions. Anyway, it's a liquid graphite looking substance. You pull the pads, heat them with a torch (or I suppose a heat gun would work too) and pour & smear it on the lining itself. It soaks in like water on the sidewalk. Stopped 90% of my squeal.

 

[MYBAD79]

Finally found the time to address the brake squeal. Brakes were in great shape but there was evidence the previous owner had tried to tackle the squeal. He had used some type of red sealer to seal the piston to the back of the pad and had rigged a small plastic tube on the edge of the metal backing plates where it rubs the caliper. I removed all of that and lubed the piston to backing plate location, the edges of the backing plate where it might contact the caliper, and the pin that secures the pads. I also beveled the edges of the pads with a dremel tool. No more squeal. Life is good. Now I wonder how often I'll have to re-lube and/or re-bevel.

DC

The red stuff is anti-squeel stuff - I've used it and I can't say anything negative, my breaks don't squeel.... it's the red sticky stuff you can buy at the Zone...
The plastic tubing stuff is most likely Ecklers anti squeel kit... $20 for eight 1.25" sections of plastic tubing.... I fell for it too and bought it..... again: can't say anything negative other than that it's kinda pricey for eight pieces of plastic.... one of these "magic" products seems to work, either this or my anti squeel glue.... :smash:

 

[DC3]

Finally found the time to address the brake squeal. Brakes were in great shape but there was evidence the previous owner had tried to tackle the squeal. He had used some type of red sealer to seal the piston to the back of the pad and had rigged a small plastic tube on the edge of the metal backing plates where it rubs the caliper. I removed all of that and lubed the piston to backing plate location, the edges of the backing plate where it might contact the caliper, and the pin that secures the pads. I also beveled the edges of the pads with a dremel tool. No more squeal. Life is good. Now I wonder how often I'll have to re-lube and/or re-bevel.

DC

The red stuff is anti-squeel stuff - I've used it and I can't say anything negative, my breaks don't squeel.... it's the red sticky stuff you can buy at the Zone...
The plastic tubing stuff is most likely Ecklers anti squeel kit... $20 for eight 1.25" sections of plastic tubing.... I fell for it too and bought it..... again: can't say anything negative other than that it's kinda pricey for eight pieces of plastic.... one of these "magic" products seems to work, either this or my anti squeel glue.... :smash:

Talked to a guy today who was very knowledgeable about brakes. He said a lot of times a squeal like the one I had with no obvious signs of metal on metal wear on an otherwise well working brake system is a result of resonant frequencies caused by the overall vibration of the brake system. Doing anything to change the resonant frequency can help the situation. That is why the red sticky stuff generally works so well as it binds the two components most likely to cause the squeal. Lubing the way I did can also work. He has also had some success with the self-adhesive teflon brake shims that glue to the back of the pad where the piston contacts.

He said there is an article about this in the current issue of Popular Mechanics (which I have but haven't read yet - figures).

I asked him if something like dynamat or other sound deadening material might work and he said it very well could if you could get a big enough piece installed to change the resonant frequency. There is place on the back of the pads between where the two pistons touch that a small square of dynamat or similar could be placed. Might be something to keep in mind if others have this problem.

DC