Brake squeal - what would you do next?

[matchtheclown]

The whats what.

Issue is with the fronts squealing.

Brembo calipers.

1. Discs worn out, some jap brand pad I couldn't read the name of. Stopped like a demon no squeal. The pads had 1/2 shims which are stock bremo I have been told.

2. Replaced discs with RDA slotted front and back. Left old pads in as was waiting for QFM A1RM pads. The old pads squealed like a bitch. Did a trackday when the discs were pretty new. Squealed on the way to track at the track and home.

3. Got A1RM pads put them in with the 1/2 shims squeal continued.

4. Tried using caliper glue between shims, same setup. Squeal continued.

5. Tried scoring the A1RM's as its an old trick to reduce noise. Also sanded the pads as advised by RDA as old pad compounds could have causes build up. Also sanded the A1RM's slightly. Squal continued.

6. ordered TWR lucas shims (like gaffa tape, replaced the 1/2 shims on the a1rm's) squeal continued.

7. Put stock brembo pads in (had some old ones) squeal continued.

8. Ordered HPX pads in hope the A1RM's where just to race oriented. Put the full size shims off the bremo's on them. Also got my discs skimmed at a brake shop just in case they where warped a little. Squeal continued.


The rear's with A1RM's have been sweet the whole time no squeal, and they are wearing nicely. The fronts have darker lines across the wear path in a couple of places I wonder if the discs have been cooked or something and that's why they squeal.


My next step I think its to get the cheapest, softest pads I can and see if they stop the squealing.

Past that it's selling the discs on ebay to some chump and punting off all the pads to. Then in vesting in a project Mu discs / pad combo.

It's very shit and annoying and makes the driving experience like being raped. I regularly consider driving my car into a wall so I can collect insurance.

What would you do next?

 

[Macca]

It seems like a lot of people are having this problem with a Brembo/RDA combo. Im looking to do that upgrade soonish but dont want any squealing, sorry I cant help but look forward to hearing what the fix is.

 

[bradc]

Do the fronts go quiet if you stand on the brakes a few times to warm them up? I am running aggressive pads on my car and I find that once they have a bit of heat in them they are fine and the squealing goes away.

 

[matchtheclown]

Do the fronts go quiet if you stand on the brakes a few times to warm them up? I am running aggressive pads on my car and I find that once they have a bit of heat in them they are fine and the squealing goes away.

Not really hey. I find I get less squeal if I brake fairly hard and apply the pedal pressure smoothly and quickly though.

but if I start lightly on the pedal then get on it harder I get really bad squeal.

Also doing a run though the hills where I'm hard into it which would definitely get them warm doesn't stop the squealing either it almost increases it.

Macca > get project Mu discs, they only cost ~$200 extra in the long run it would be worth it.

 

[bradc]

Mine are similar, if they are cool I can press the brake pedal harder and they don't squeal, only light brake applications cause noise.

 

[Hipsi]

Hugh, have a read of this, might be a solution. http://rdabrakes.com.au/index.php/technical/171-brake-pad-squeal-and-other-noises-update-tb-09.html

 

[pu-11-me]

I'd go back to standard lol....

Sounds like its a brembo thing. A couple of my mates that have EVO's experience the same thing, and judging by some threads on this site it looks like it doesn't change when you throw them on VR4's either!!

 

[Hipsi]

this is interesting reading also. http://rdabrakes.com.au/index.php/technical/73-brake-squeal-and-other-noises-tb03.html

 

[matchtheclown]

this is interesting reading also. http://rdabrakes.com.au/index.php/technical/73-brake-squeal-and-other-noises-tb03.html

One of the RDA guys sent me that info... he actually advised me to lightly sand the discs which I did prior to getting them machined which those links say is a no no.

Anyhow I have tried all of the above to on avail.

It must be possible to avoid the squeal. The previous discs / pads didn't squeal at all.

 

[naughtika]

here's my input from your other thread.. link

like i said in the above post, CRC De-Squeak works only for a day though.. its in a spray can.. when sprayed on the rotor surface, it looks like mercury..

*NOTE*

If you're gonna try this.. try it first by braking at a low speed..

 

[Stuii]

Looks like you've tried everything... almost
have you tried putting the original discs back on to check if the squeal happens?

that would basically immediately let you know whether the cause is the new rotors... doesn't help you with a fix, but then you'll definitely know the cause

fwiw - I have rda rotors I think and I am getting some squeaking

 

[happymatch]

mate, i feel the same. feel like smash it into a gutter or something and collect the insurance. my stock brakes are effed and when those problems start to pop out, i want to get rid of this car sometimes. No grip at the back at all. some have offered me to crash into my car and share the excess fees.. tempting but dont wanna go to the prison for that~

 

[naughtika]

i haven't cleaned the brake pad slider pins.. will give that a clean..

my dad's suspicion is the rotor.. but then again, when he saw the HPX pads, he said that the pads were too "metallic" which will definitely cause brake squeal.. but then again.. i've read everywhere and people said they're great..

so in the end.. I'm still confused..

 

[jungle]

Were the brembo's standard or fitted after-market?

A lot of people talk of brake squeal. I've never had it. When i get a new/old i put a brake kit through the front and rear. Did it on my Sil80 using the nissan 4 pistons fronts and 2 rear. I use race pads which have high metal content. I occasionally get some squeal when they are very hot but not all the time.
I'd suggest also make sure the pads have decent backing plates. I ALWAYS use 2 sets and i've never had a problem.

The kit may cost a bit for the brembo's, doesn't take long to do and may cost around $100 from memory. But i know the seals pistons and the workings of the caliper are then top notch.

Hope that helps you from selling the car...

Another thought after i just posted was make sure you bed them in well and heat cycle them
My way;
-1 medium pressure 80km/h-40 (use full throttle to accelerate back up to 80)
-2 medium pressure 80km/h-40
-3 medium pressure 100-60
-4 medium pressure 100-60 (full throttle to around 130)
-5 then brake to the point of lock up and then 130-40 then drive for 10-15 minutes and don't touch the brake pedal at all. I Do this on the highway so i can do this unimpeded.
I never have a problem with brakes.
around step to 2-3 you will feel more retardation as the sealing crap comes off and the material heats up. you will find on step 5 massive retardation, if you don't, repeat step 5

 

[Macca]

Does anyone have any experience with the project mu ones or does everyone have RDA rotors? What are peoples reasons for going with the RDA ones? I don't mean to hijack just wanted to ask a follow up question on what you said Hugh.

 

[sart0ri]

I have Brembo calipers and DBA rotors and the sqealing is the worst I have ever heard on a car. I have also tried all the things that Hugh has, and a couple more.

Has anyone with Brembos tried removing the metal spring clip that clips on between the brake pins? Does anyone with Brembos still get the squeal without this part?

 

[Scottie]

I still think it is a trait of the fixed calliper. Maybe if you could throw in a washer or a rubber gromet to see if that takes away the noise.

 

[Stuii]

I'm getting the squeal on non-brembo's with rda rotors

 

[Macca]

Sounds like the RDA rotors are a common fault here

 

[mookers]

I've got standard series 1 calipers, RDA slotted, and EBC greenstuff. No squeal. But the greenstuff is giving me chronic rotor warpage (at least that's what Ivan thinks, based on his previous experience with EBC greenstuff).