Brake pads were squeaking

Geo-TH,In · Oct 10, 2022

I removed the brake pads on the left side of my car. They look
good.
I went to Autozone and got another opinion.
The guy at the zone said I don't need new pads. Mine are just
glazed. Lightly scuff them and they will work. I told him if
they still squeak I'll just turn the radio up. I took 150g
sandpaper, put the sandpaper in flat metal and lightly moved the
pad across the paper 2x. Removed the shine and no more
squeaking.
Never had pads squeak in the past just because they were glazed.
In the past if the pads were talking, the wear bar was rubbing
on the rotor.
Rotors look like new. Mission accomplished!
Pads had more than half the life left in them at 55k.

Sean Feeney · Oct 10, 2022

I don't have all the money you have, brakes at half life now. Had I jacked the car up removed wheels pads then drove to store then would have just thrown new set in.

Geo-TH,In · Oct 10, 2022

Only had the left side pads off.
It doesn't take that much time to remove or install pads.

I'll keep an ear out the window to listen for the squeaker bearing talking.

I'll also watch the odometer and watch the rotors. I'm betting I'll easily get 100k out of the pads..
Zero wear on the rotors too. I may get by next time with just pads.

wore out · Oct 10, 2022

A couple of quick, hard stops would have probably accomplished the same thing. I need to do that with the wife's Acadia every now and then. Just a side effect of no more asbestos and brass in the friction material!

37 chief · Oct 10, 2022

The guy at Auto Zone could have just said you need a new set. He saved you some money. As much as I dislike doing jobs where I need to squad down. I probably Would have just installed new pads. Stan

Geo-TH,In · Oct 10, 2022

A Tenant left behind a chair with metal

Legs. I cut off 7 inches.
No squatting. Perfect height.
I have a special chair in both pole barns.
No working on my praying bones.

Stephen Newell · Oct 10, 2022

Recently I tore down my front wheels and re-greased my front wheel bearings. The brake pads were worn down by half so I went and got some new pads. Ever since then the breaks have a deafening squeal to them.

kencombs · Oct 10, 2022

If I had that problem I could just turn off my hearing aids.

Geo-TH,In · Oct 10, 2022

If sanding didn't work my plan B: turn up the radio.

rustred · Oct 10, 2022

the cheap pads will not squeak. its the hard expensive ones that do that. no way i would use sandpaper as the sand will get into the pad. use emery cloth. just like when a rock gets caught in the rotor it make a heck of a squealing.

caterpillar guy · Oct 10, 2022

Never got more than about 20,000 out of those dumb disc brakes. Old drum brakes I used to get close to the 100,000 out of them. With the semi I got about 700,000 out of the original set on the tractor now over a million and just on the second set of shoes. Now tell me those stupid caliper brakes are so good.

rustred · Oct 10, 2022

pavement running and mud running is two different thinga. plus the driver on the brakes is the biggest factor. my last 96 chev had 400,000 km with the original back shoes. and i think i only replaced the front pads 3 times. and this 2006 duramax i got i am sure i am on the 3rd set of pads on front. i am not hard on brakes and dont ride them. when following people down hill i see their brake lights on all the way down lots of times. so drivers are mostly to blame .

omahagreg · Oct 10, 2022

We have a 2016 Traverse with 96,000 miles-when we got it in July of 17 it had 48,000 miles! Just had the 100,000 mile service done. I had never even checked the brakes but had them checked this time. Rears were fine but the fronts needed replaced! Great to have brakes like that!

Hobo,NC · Oct 10, 2022

Just wondering @55K what do you think they should look like.

MarkB_MI · Oct 11, 2022

It will be interesting to see if the problem quickly returns. Since you got them at AZ, I assume they were NOT OEM pads.

Squealing brakes used to be a big problem in the early days of disk brakes, but I can't remember the last time I heard the brakes on one of my vehicles squeal. I only use OEM pads these days, or name brand pads like ACDelco, Wagner or Akebono. These days the good pads have some sort of plastic plate between the pad and the caliper piston that I assume is there to eliminate squeal. You can also buy 'anti-squeal', which is a goo you put on the back side of the pads for the same purpose.

Majorman · Oct 11, 2022

My younger brother fixed squealing brakes on his racing bike. He oiled the rims where the brake shoes ran!!!!!! True story. He is still with us after over 70 years.

Geo-TH,In · Oct 11, 2022

There was more than a 1/4 inch between the squeaker bar and the
top of the pad.

My labor is free. I took Autozone's advice and just sanded them.

If nothing else I learned something new, sanding brake pads to
stop them from squeaking..

I'm retired. I have very little to do.
How much should I pay myself for shade mechanic work?

Geo-TH,In · Oct 11, 2022

Mark,
I was going to buy new pads at AZ and the guy at AZ talked me out of it. I installed my old pads.

Here is what I found on Amazon
ACDelco Professional 17D1896CHF1 Ceramic Front Disc Brake Pad Kit
4.6 out of 5 stars 7
$54.39

Does GM use ceramic pads?
My OEM pads looked like they had metal particles in them.

DoubleO7 · Oct 11, 2022

If you look up your vehicle on rockauto, the choices for most parts will show which version was oem.

MarkB_MI · Oct 11, 2022

> Does GM use ceramic pads?
> My OEM pads looked like they had metal particles in them.

They might be either. Ceramic pads last the longest while metallic stops the fastest.

Note that the ACDelco 'Professional' line is not quite the same as GM OE. They're quite a bit cheaper than OEM pads. Most dealers will give you the option of OEM or Professional pads on your brake job. For my own work, I'll usually go with the Professional pads. Rock Auto will list both.

showcrop · Oct 11, 2022

I just apply the no squeal goop to the backs when putting them in.

Brake pads were squeaking

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads