Brake pad squeaking
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Brake pad squeaking
My front left pad is squealing like Rosie O’Donnell in a mud pit.. the pads are like new (but they are about 2 yrs old) it just started couple months ago it’s the pads for sure cause I took them of out tire back on rotated it and it didn’t do it
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2017
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A pebble between the backing plate and the disc will also make one heck of a squeal. Chased a squeal for days once before I finally got a bright flashlight and looked very carefully.
But if you glazed the pads, I agree with using a little emery paper to remove the glaze and restore some tooth.
But if you glazed the pads, I agree with using a little emery paper to remove the glaze and restore some tooth.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2015
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From: Colorado Springs
Try spraying brake cleaner to clean excessive dust. If that doesn't work, remove the brake pad, use brake grease on the slides (top/bottom) and behind the pad where the calipers make contact.
It's a Van Gogh
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: Elk Grove, CA
Good stuff above, but first (cuz it's simplest) I would give the pads a fresh break-in. Get it up to 70 and brake moderately down to 10, then back up to 70 and repeat 3-4 times. Brake more firmly each time. If they start to fade you're plenty hot. Then drive without braking until brakes are cool. Obviously you'll need a wide open road for this. I have a 2 lane that zig zags along the perimeter of fields, typically deserted, that feeds into the highway, perfect set up for this. The key is never stop moving! The idea is to get the pads and rotors hot enough to resurface both, then allow them to cool while in motion. If you stop the truck while the pads are hot the pad material will transfer to the rotor in one spot, and you will feel warping/pulsing after that.
What pads did you use?
What pads did you use?
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Good stuff above, but first (cuz it's simplest) I would give the pads a fresh break-in. Get it up to 70 and brake moderately down to 10, then back up to 70 and repeat 3-4 times. Brake more firmly each time. If they start to fade you're plenty hot. Then drive without braking until brakes are cool. Obviously you'll need a wide open road for this. I have a 2 lane that zig zags along the perimeter of fields, typically deserted, that feeds into the highway, perfect set up for this. The key is never stop moving! The idea is to get the pads and rotors hot enough to resurface both, then allow them to cool while in motion. If you stop the truck while the pads are hot the pad material will transfer to the rotor in one spot, and you will feel warping/pulsing after that.
What pads did you use?
What pads did you use?
I can’t even remember what pads.. they have held up extremely well though.. I took them apart and cleaned them awhile ago but it didn’t help.. would doing the high speed braking work as well as using emery cloth
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Postmaster
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From: Colorado Springs
Absolutely not! The purpose of breaking in brake pads is to marry the pads to the rotors. You can google breaking in brake pads. Do several low speed runs 40mph to 10 just to bring them to temp. Then get speed up to 60-70's down to 10-15mph...4/5x's. Don't come to a complete stop during the process. When done pull over and let everything cool.
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Oh, so THAT's what the early morning commuters around me are doing. Breaking in their brake pads. I always wondered why they accelerated around me at 60-70 mph when all the traffic ahead is only going 10-15 mph. Makes perfect sense now.
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From: Colorado Springs
Yes, it makes for cooler selfies! 
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If the pads are glazed, a fresh break-in probably won't help.
That really just means not overheating them in the first dozen or so stops, though the procedure outlined above will just get it done quicker.
If you sand off the glaze, you will need to break them in again.
That really just means not overheating them in the first dozen or so stops, though the procedure outlined above will just get it done quicker.
If you sand off the glaze, you will need to break them in again.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: St. Louis, Mo.
I put Hawk superduty pads on my work van, E-350 about 1-1/2 years ago & they squeak horrible. OEM never did. I replaced the front rotors (oem) also at same time. I did the break in procedure after install per Hawk, they stop good but that drives me crazy every time I stop. Will go oem next time as I got almost 55 k out of original brakes with no noise.
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