Brake Squeal

[-Ub3R-]

I recently fitted EBC OEM direct replacement discs with Ultimax pads and the brakes have been fine for a good 600 miles.

I've been driving normally with no hard braking but today, they started squealing ridiculously loud.

It used to be a slight squeak when I was about to stop. Now it's from 40mph, only goes away when I brake fairly hard.

Any idea how I can fix this?

Or what's causing it?

[Mistermena]

I recently fitted EBC OEM direct replacement discs with Ultimax pads and the brakes have been fine for a good 600 miles.

I've been driving normally with no hard braking but today, they started squealing ridiculously loud.

It used to be a slight squeak when I was about to stop. Now it's from 40mph, only goes away when I brake fairly hard.

Any idea how I can fix this?

Or what's causing it?

I've just changed my discs and pads on my T-180 Avensis using MTEC's all round and Mintex pads. Have you put any copper ease on the rear of the pads and where the pads sit in the caliper? Some pads have a rubber backing to them to stop the squealing! But even if they have I still use the copper ease as this stops any noise while under braking...

[-Ub3R-]

I used copper ease yes.

I just drove it again and it was no way near as bad.

Only squealing for the last 2mph before stopping, which is fine.

I'm gonna give them till about 1500 miles before I start looking for fixes.

Note:

I had cleaned the car today and the brakes got a nice thin layer of rust on them, that might've been the cause.

[jjj_aygo]

perhaps a small piece of grit stuck between pad and disc? Get some brake cleaner in a powerful aerosol... should dislodge anything there

[Jamesbelfast]

Neither car or brake manufacturers recommend the use of copper grease on or anywhere near brake pads. Think about it do new cars come with copper grease on their brakes.

It has a detrimental affect on the caliper pistons and their rubber seals. It rots the rubber seals and then water can get into the piston causing corrosion.

Brake squeal from new discs and pads usually means the are not a good match - usually because the pad is too hard or it not seated correctly in it housing. It only takes the slightest mis-match in surface contact area to cause vibration.

If any vibration is occuring betwen the pad and caliper then the correct grease or anti-vibration pads of shims shoild be used. It also helps to ensure any any-rattle springs and clean and secure.:)

[Unklian]

Have you "cooked them in" ?

I've recently fitted EBC discs & ultimax pads.

Somewhere on their website, it is mentioned that

after you have let the discs polish up by using them gently for

a few hundred miles, you should burn 'em in.

Found it......

"After you are confident that the pads and discs are perfectly mated, use the brakes on a quiet and safe road 5-6 times at medium pressure bringing the car from 60mph to 10mph. Drive the vehicle for a few miles to allow the brakes to cool and repeat this procedure. During this final break in a brake odour will almost certainly appear and this is perfectly normal. This is known as green fade where the surface resins within the pad finally cure and burn off."

Might help?

Ian.

[-Ub3R-]

They are running fine at the moment without any squeal.

I need to go for a longer drive to tell you how they're doing.

Thank you for the replies thus far.

Unklian:

I was driving fairly enthusiastically the other day with them and did a fair amount of serious braking. I didn't smell any brakes however. So no burn-in yet. :)

[-Ub3R-]

I had a look at the brakes yesterday and realised i'd left off the little covers that go on the back of the pads. I've yet to hear any hint of a squeak. And the brakes feel a lot less severe.