Squeaky brakes!!

[doug w.]

I'm hoping that someone here can help me with a squeaky brake situation on my daughter's 2002 Neon.

She lives out of state and I don't see the car often; but when she lived at home, the car had a chronic squeak problem with front brakes.
I took it to my local dealership once, and to a couple independent shops; nobody managed to get rid of the squeak.

It's to the point now that people in the crosswalks are jumping out of the way when she pulls up, no matter how slowly she sneaks up on them. :D

It's worse during damp weather, but annoying whatever the weather.

Anyobody have good results with an aftermarket pad? Maybe something a bit softer than the the stock ones? I'm sure that she would prefer to have them replaced more often, than to put up with the noise.

Thanks! I appreciate any suggestions.

[HoodooGuru]

U need some softer pads.
Or most probably the pads are that low that the steel prongs holding the wear material are scraping on the disc. If so u will need to get the discs atleast machined or replaced.

[doug w.]

U need some softer pads.
Or most probably the pads are that low that the steel prongs holding the wear material are scraping on the disc. If so u will need to get the discs atleast machined or replaced.

Thanks!

It's definitely not that the pads are worn and the scrapers are making the noise. It's always had the squeaking problem, even with plenty of material on the pads.

The pads have been replaced at least once, but I'm sure that they were replaced with stock pads.

I'll find a softer variety, and see how those do.

[rice_eater]

If you are sure (and I mean SURE) that your rotors and pads are in good condition (check the inside pad too!!!) then what you need to do is called "cutting and lubing." Take out the pads on both sides and rough them up with a small disc grinder with a rough grit pad. Then take the same grinder and "cut" each end or "corner" of the pad at a 45 degree angle. Lying flat your pad will look like this: \______/ Just imagine the angles @ 45s, and the bottom of that sketch would be the part of the pad that contacts the rotor. That takes car of cutting the pads, now on to lubing. Using the same grinder clean up the part of the spindle/knuckle that the pads slide back and forth on. Don't take away metal, just clean the rust off so its semi-clean, doesnt need to be perfect. Next remove the slide pins from the caliper (2 in each caliper, inside rubber boots). Thoroughly clean them, usually you can get by with a rag and some brake cleaner, however if they are really sticky (i.e. did not slide good, were hard to remove, or appear rusty) smooth them out with some fine grit sandpaper after cleaning with brake cleaner. Now apply a THIN layer of silicone brake lubricant to the surfaces on the spindle/knuckle that the pads ride on, the slide pins, and the backside of each pad. Less is more in this case, just make sure its all covered. Reassemble everything and your done. Got all that?

And yes, if you have hard, cheap pads you will probably need to do this again eventually. But you should be set for a while anyway. Good luck.

[doug w.]

If you are sure (and I mean SURE) that your rotors and pads are in good condition (check the inside pad too!!!) then what you need to do is called "cutting and lubing." Take out the pads on both sides and rough them up with a small disc grinder with a rough grit pad. Then take the same grinder and "cut" each end or "corner" of the pad at a 45 degree angle. Lying flat your pad will look like this: \______/ Just imagine the angles @ 45s, and the bottom of that sketch would be the part of the pad that contacts the rotor. That takes car of cutting the pads, now on to lubing. Using the same grinder clean up the part of the spindle/knuckle that the pads slide back and forth on. Don't take away metal, just clean the rust off so its semi-clean, doesnt need to be perfect. Next remove the slide pins from the caliper (2 in each caliper, inside rubber boots). Thoroughly clean them, usually you can get by with a rag and some brake cleaner, however if they are really sticky (i.e. did not slide good, were hard to remove, or appear rusty) smooth them out with some fine grit sandpaper after cleaning with brake cleaner. Now apply a THIN layer of silicone brake lubricant to the surfaces on the spindle/knuckle that the pads ride on, the slide pins, and the backside of each pad. Less is more in this case, just make sure its all covered. Reassemble everything and your done. Got all that?

And yes, if you have hard, cheap pads you will probably need to do this again eventually. But you should be set for a while anyway. Good luck.

Thanks!