Squeal from rear brakes?

[TripleTransAm]

Since a few months after I bought my car I've had this brief squeal (the single frequency whistle type) that was present only on cool mornings and only when the car (brakes) was stone cold. It appeared to be coming from the rear brakes. It really only used to occur on the first 2-3 braking attempts on a cool morning.

In 2004 it got to the point where it squealed a little even on warm-ish mornings. Now that it's way below freezing on a constant basis, it's much worse than a squeal... it's a multi-frequency shriek that sounds like what you'd get when you're past the wear indicators and the rivets are rubbing on the discs.

I mentioned this to the service department on Monday and they said there's nothing they can do about it. This is in my opinion... I already had to endure months of being ashamed of my ticking engine in a $49k Canadian "muscle / luxury" car, and now I have to disrupt my ultra-quiet new neighborhood with shrieking brakes at 7 am.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Haggis]

Since a few months after I bought my car I've had this brief squeal (the single frequency whistle type) that was present only on cool mornings and only when the car (brakes) was stone cold. It appeared to be coming from the rear brakes. It really only used to occur on the first 2-3 braking attempts on a cool morning.

In 2004 it got to the point where it squealed a little even on warm-ish mornings. Now that it's way below freezing on a constant basis, it's much worse than a squeal... it's a multi-frequency shriek that sounds like what you'd get when you're past the wear indicators and the rivets are rubbing on the discs.

I mentioned this to the service department on Monday and they said there's nothing they can do about it. This is in my opinion... I already had to endure months of being ashamed of my ticking engine in a $49k Canadian "muscle / luxury" car, and now I have to disrupt my ultra-quiet new neighborhood with shrieking brakes at 7 am.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Shoot the Service Manager.

[TripleTransAm]

Service manager's come through for me before, when I was stranded by Ford Roadside Ass-istance. Cannot resort to physical violence, must find alternate approach.

Anyone out there suffered this squealing brake situation and resolved it?

[Haggis]

Take off rear tire and check brake pads for wear or foreign material.

Sorry I can not be of further assistance.

Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

[Dr Caleb]

I got the same thing, on both my CV and MM. Usually when it's not too cold. Currently, at -31 I get no brake squeak, but when it's -5 or above, I do.

I'm convinced it's just rust buildup overnight, and as you say, a couple uses of the brake makes it go away. Brake dust on the wheels seems to confirm this suspicion. However, since I changed the pads and rotors on the CV this past fall, it does not ocurr with the same 'harshness' as before.

I went to NAPA, and got their good replacement pads ('United" metallic) and cheap 'Made in China' rotors. I tend to change rotors every time I change pads, and at $15 bucks each, it's cheap to do so. I also picked up something I've never tried before - an anti-glazing spray. I think it was this stuff:

http://www.napaonline.com/cgi-bin/nc...&usrcommgrpid=

It's a spray that you put on the pads and rotors and let dry before installing. The brakes on the CV are very quiet now, no morning squeal at all.

Like Haggis said, could be forgien material, could just be age. But the above worked on my CV.

[Bluerauder]

Anyone out there suffered this squealing brake situation and resolved it?

Yes, mine seemed to have started doing it on the first couple stops in the morning. Currently a little over 16,000 miles. Seems to me that it is coming from the front brake pads. Have not noticed any difference due to temperatures; but I really have not been paying attention to it from that perspective. Might be an accumulation of brake dust and such. I do find it rather "embarrassing" and also have been told in the past that some squeal is "normal" on the new type pads. I figured this was mostly

[DEFYANT]

I have noticed that squeal on my CVPI after a long time of routine driving. After a hot run though, the squeal is gone. I suggest you gettem hot to burn off the glaze or dislodge dust or dirt.

[merc406]

Since a few months after I bought my car I've had this brief squeal (the single frequency whistle type) that was present only on cool mornings and only when the car (brakes) was stone cold. It appeared to be coming from the rear brakes. It really only used to occur on the first 2-3 braking attempts on a cool morning.

In 2004 it got to the point where it squealed a little even on warm-ish mornings. Now that it's way below freezing on a constant basis, it's much worse than a squeal... it's a multi-frequency shriek that sounds like what you'd get when you're past the wear indicators and the rivets are rubbing on the discs.

I mentioned this to the service department on Monday and they said there's nothing they can do about it. This is in my opinion... I already had to endure months of being ashamed of my ticking engine in a $49k Canadian "muscle / luxury" car, and now I have to disrupt my ultra-quiet new neighborhood with shrieking brakes at 7 am.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Steve, ya sure it's not your kid in the back seat?

[stock93cv]

My 03 (10,000 miles) has just started with the brake squeal. Going in to the dealer tomorrow and will see what they have to say about it. Very annoying noise.

[duhtroll]

Ya know - I was just noticing mine doing that same thing. More when it's colder out - first few stops I get the loud squeal from the rears. Then it goes away, then I get on the highway for 20 miles, then it comes back after the brakes have again cooled.

I have the infamous "Ford pulsing" so I am getting new brakes next spring anyway. I'll put on a decent set and solve this problem that way.

-A

[EbonyMarauder03]

My rear brakes squeal too. Sometimes I can shut them up by lightly riding the brake pedal.

If you change the pads you have to either get the rotors machined or replaced. Reason being the old rotor surface will only match the ripples in your old pads. You can try pulling the pads out and hitting them with some sandpaper, and using a circular pattern, sand the rotors lightly to break the glaze. Then pick up some Piggy Squeal (I believe it's Rayloc part number S-007) from NAPA, which more or less glues the pads to the calipers. Brake noise is 90% caused by the pads vibrating. Remember to also lube the sliding hardward with a good brake lube so the calipers can easily self adjust. You can also put a slight chamfer on the pads when you reinstall them to help with noise.

[stock93cv]

Dealer says probable rust, or tiny rotor fragments embedded in the pads, etc., and since I am past the 12-month date of service it's not under waranty. I guess I'll be living with the squeal until it's time for new brakes.

[Paul T. Casey]

Steve, mine tend to squeak a little bit if I don't drive it for a few days, I think it's the rust thing that happens because it goes away in a few miles. Yours, ???

[David Morton]

When I worked for Chevrolet back in the 80s the all-time "disc brake squeal" comeback king was the El Camino. Everybody that did a front brake job on one, and I mean everybody, had 'em come back and try to explain to the customer it was "normal" and there was no fix for it. Greg Mierze Has a good article (click here for article) containing all the tips we used and none of them worked!

Until somebody came up with Transfer Film Technology for spraying or painting on the surface of the pads. Most pads today already come with the stuff imbedded in the pad but yours might not. What it does is fill in the micro-fine surface imperfections on the rotors with aluminum or a variety of other things that stop the squeal.

Ask your SM if he will try some of the stuff if you bring it in for him. I remember getting cans of the stuff for about $10.