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Disc Brake "Squeal"

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Frank C.

Frank C.

Jedi Hopeful
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Disc Brake "Squeal"

Can anyone explain exactly what causes the classic '60s disc brake squealing? I'm not sure if it's the actual pads making the noise or some other part that starts rapidly vibrating.

My BJ8 does is sometimes and then works fine for awhile. I thought it was temperature or moisture related but it doesn't always follow those rules!

Is there an easy way to correct the problem?

As always, thank in advance.
 
Re: Disc Brake "Squeal"

I always thought it was the pad chirping away when the caliper piston is applied. What I have done to remidy that problem are three items:
1) Apply a silicon type gel on the back of each pad (even the fronts because they also could squeal against the housing). This solves it 95% of the time.

2) Make sure that pads are for that car. I've done many brake job on different cars and found that replacements don't always provide a "backing clip" that slides / clips onto the back of the pad.

3) If that doesn't work, then I just replace the pad / rotor with a matched set from the same manufacturer (not store, but mfg).

Good luck. A majority of the time, a little gel on the back of the pads solves the issue. Especially if the car has sat for a while.

Geo Zeck
 
Re: Disc Brake "Squeal"

Frank, Your squeal is most likely the vibration between the piston and the pad back plate. Check out your Moss catalog. The front brake page has some adhesive strips you can apply that will dampen the vibration. mac
 
Re: Disc Brake "Squeal"

I have found the gel to work also.The #1 cure so far was that the pad a built up a ridge on the top,I filed this down rounded all the edges and cut a daigonal clean out slot across the pad this has cured all brake squeal.By the way I had squeal so bad it was causing glass to break in peoples china cabinets.
CDK
 
Re: Disc Brake "Squeal"

Thanks to all for your quick responses. What exactly do you mean when you refer to a silicon gel? Does white lithium grease qualify or should I get something special?

thanks again ...
 
Re: Disc Brake "Squeal"

You shouldn't use grease anywhere near your brake pads. If it gets on the pads or rotors you will have a serious safety problem.

Anti-squeal compound is commonly available in car parts stores. It comes in both liquid and spray.


PC.
hammer.gif
 
Re: Disc Brake "Squeal"

The stuff I've used is a lot like the bathroom tub sealant (silicone). Comes in a tube at the car parts store. I've had less success with the shims sold by Moss and others.
jim
 
Re: Disc Brake "Squeal"

I've had good luck with "anti-squeal shims," a stick-on paperlike dealie that goes on the pads. I got mine from "FASPEC" in Portland, Oregon (FASPEC British Parts, 1036 SE Stark Street, Portland Tel: (503) 232-1232 local,
(800) 547-8788 toll-free, fax: (503) 232-7909, Email: <faspec@teleport.com&gt
wink.gif
, although they are undoubtedly available from of a number of suppliers.

I'm not sure how or why they work, but they do!
 
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