Dean:

Has nothing to do with age. Brake squeak is nothing more than a high frequency vibration. 99% of the time, it is the disc brakes in front. But, just to make sure you don't waste time chasing a non existent noise, make sure it is coming from the front before you start on this.


Most brake pads these days come with a thin backing that looks almost like gasket material, but it is tougher than gasket material. Check that first. If there aren't any, that will PROBABLY cure your issue. However, with this kind of thing there is no guarantee. Can be hard to fix once it started.

Assuming you have the 4 piston calipers??

 

Yes, normal. The squeal is right at the comfortable stopping effort, let up, goes away, press harder, goes away.
Generally, a beer can shim between the pad and piston/caliper works.
An old school trick is cut the pad friction material in half, width wise, with a hacksaw.
This cutting moves the sound higher up in the frequency band out of human hearing range.

 

Just how bad is the squeaking? It could be many things, the most obvious is dirt if you don't think the brakes are old enough to be worn very much. All it would take is for a grain of sand size piece of debris to get between the rotor and pad. Sometimes it's just moisture caused surface rust between the rotor and pad as well. Of course check for premature pad wear and look for odd wear on the rotor as well, if the pad and rotor are not aligned properly you could have a leading edge of a pad making contact before the rest of the pad causing the noise.

 

After years of different pad compounds , packing, tension on the spring hold ins, putting cuts thru the pads with hack saw, pastes etc etc.

that will PROBABLY cure your issue. However, with this kind of thing there is no guarantee.

Pretty well sums it up..
I do not believe there is any universal majic cure regardless of what is used.
I now thru the pads, in , using correct brake grease backing pads...generally fine for a few 100 miles, even 1000s...then it starts, As Everett says , at the pressure for normal driving , interesection use.
Generally, something like, next stop, brake a bit harder, or when taking off.. normally have a little drag on the brakes for 20yds...generally cures it for a while, that being for the next 10 miles or the next 2 months.
I have been using a weater blaster to wash the car in recent time, I have noticed any squeal is far more infrequent as the brakes get a good flush blasting the brake dust off the cragars... but that is no garantee either...
I have noticed if one lets it squeal too long withourt doing anything...firmer braking , draging the brakes as above...then the period of time and frequency is greater, but that maybe just this and last set of pads?????

 

Thanks for the info guys. I'm going to look at the shims and I also purchased a small packet of brake grease from auto zone.

 

Some pads make a lot more noise than others, Carbom pads can make a lot of noise and eat rotors,

 

Carbom pads can make a lot of noise and eat rotors,

John, I gree on that being a factor, but what is very noticable down the workshop is chinese/ factory jap rotors dont last long, relatively, older Orginal American rotors and korean do. When schimming on does notice a diffence in the steel...

Dean, Not mentioned above...did u skim the rotors 1st?

 

Just upgraded my GM single sliding caliper front disc brakes to JL8 and the driver's side started squeaking after a week. Upon assembly I wanted everything clean and new, so I didn't use the sticky red "Disc Brake Quiet" spray.

Raised and removed the wheel, pulled the single pad retention pin, removed both pads, sprayed the pad backs, put everything back together. Really like the pad retention on the 4 piston calipers.

No squeak/squeal.

 

Don't waste your money on spray. It will likely squeeze out. Use the correct type shim or as Everett said, a home made shim.

Be careful with that brake grease. Tiny amounts.
If you are working on a single piston caliper set up, it will help to squeeze the tabs down tight.

 

My discs started squealing after a couple hundred miles. The coating on the back of the pads had flaked off. I think it may have been just paint. I knew better and should have coated them to save myself the trouble of taking it apart again(but what fun is that?).

To stop it, I used the permatex coating in a small packet from AutoZone and it's been fine ever since. Only costs about $1-$2.

 

I will say this is just my opinion, but I did 4-10 brake jobs a day 6 days a week for 3 years. I averaged 1 come back tops per month. Thats less than 1%. This is what I learned. Most of the stuff is fairly gimmick. I have seen it all and tried some of it too...LOL!!! Lubing pads, Gluing pads, Shimming, Chauffeuring the sides of the pad, Honing rotors (non directional finish), semi-metallic, ceramic.... This is what I have found out. It makes no difference. If they squeek, get a new set. Try a different brand. (ex. I wont put thermoquiets on a nissan altima ever again because they always squeak, but cheap silver line from Advance doesnt) I have lists like that for days based on the car. Dont ride your breaks (ever)! Hard stops every now and again are good for the pad. Break them in properly. I would say 80% of all squeaks are caused by how you drive your car. I can make any car brakes squeak by riding them. If you are just looking for it to stop for a bit....Lightly scuff the pad and the rotor (You dont need to use 80 grit to do this) and put them back together. Use soap and water to wash off your rotors when installing them, not brake cleaner!!!!!!

 

Yep Chuck, basically what we see down the workshop...over the last near 30yrs..
The note on different types brands , different models... yep experiance..

Dont ride your breaks (ever)! Hard stops every now and again are good for the pad.

The loading up not long after a squeak just starts as I describe in post above ... often takes 2 or 3...will fix for a long time.

Use soap and water to wash off your rotors when installing them, not brake cleaner!!!!!!

u mean new rotors, not freshly skimed correct?
To remove the anti rust film applied? some I believe have a grease compound...brake cleaner, other have a cellelose type film... water.
Now u make have hit something here.....sort of like the old pionts dizzies, replacing pionts, always give good wipe in rough cardboard..... 9 times out of 10 no issue, then a set the anti corrosion film burns and have issue...(squeeks)

PS Im still running my orginal factory discs and drums after nearly 300,000 miles....I dont ride my brakes... or put another way tail gate.