Brake Squeek

[Paul L.]

My 1966 Coupe has disc brakes and they squeek at every stop.
I see that there are kits that add some plastic to the edges of the pads. Does anyone have any experience with using this remedy. If not, what other options are out there to stop this annoying squeal/squeek.

[Domenic T.]

Re: Brake Squeek

Paul,
I use silicone gasket you get in tubes, it's the same as they give you when you replace the pads.

A little between the piston and back of the pad will do it.

Many will tell you to get them turned but you can only do that so many times and then you replace parts.

If you think your discs are glazed you can sand them to break the glaze.

I have a brake lathe here and only use it for legal reasons as it is not necessary to turn drums and discs all the time.

DOM

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Brake Squeek

Paul,
For years I used thin "U" shaped plastic located at the front of the caliper between the metal backing of the pads and the caliper on my '69. This seemed to work well and then I was told to use organic pads (as opposed to semi-metallic) and put a chamfer at the leading and trailing edges of the pads. I did this and when I removed the plastic to try it the brakes were absolutely silent. I have no idea why but there is no squeaking. FWIW.
Jeff

[George C.]

Re: Brake Squeek

Paul,
I have used the little plastic inserts on my 65 and they worked for me!!
George

[Paul L.]

Re: Brake Squeek

Thanks for the information. I will try the "brake Plastic" and hop that that does the trick.
Thanks again.
Paul

[Paul L.]

Re: Brake Squeek

Paul,
I use silicone gasket you get in tubes, it's the same as they give you when you replace the pads.

A little between the piston and back of the pad will do it.

Many will tell you to get them turned but you can only do that so many times and then you replace parts.

If you think your discs are glazed you can sand them to break the glaze.

I have a brake lathe here and only use it for legal reasons as it is not necessary to turn drums and discs all the time.

DOM

What are legal reasons for the lathe? I am confused.
Paul

[Domenic T.]

Re: Brake Squeek

What are legal reasons for the lathe? I am confused.
Paul

Paul,
In some accidents where the person driving says their brakes failed, they go after the shop that did them and ask why certain things were not done.

All shops turn the drums & discs along with other things to do a complete brake job. If they skip any item that could add to the safety of the job they can be liable.

I was told years ago when I worked for a dealer that we had to do a complete brake job because they were sued for only repairing part of the brake system after inspecting the brakes.

DOM

[Ronald L.]

Re: Brake Squeek

Brake squeal at the OE level is usually fixed by one of two solutions:

1. Pad composition. While the organic versus semi metallic or ceramic pads usually won't squeak, they can melt to the rotors on hard braking, where a hard stop is defined by emergency lockup; and it only takes one time to do it. I've had it happen for those nay sayers out there. I can't post the trade secret the OE's generally use as far a pads that solve this, but they are not available for a c2 c3 from that MFG anyway. They work perfect to solve the issue with any other common car or truck.

2. The brake grease. That comes in the brake pad kits. Or purchased separately, you want to get a thin smear on the piston, and, any other contact edge where the pad is rubbing on the caliper.

Get it on the rotor and you're not stopping very good. Any other gimics out there I'd not try since they were not tested for safety by the OE.

[Wayne W.]

Re: Brake Squeek

Paul,
I use silicone gasket you get in tubes, it's the same as they give you when you replace the pads.

A little between the piston and back of the pad will do it.

Many will tell you to get them turned but you can only do that so many times and then you replace parts.

If you think your discs are glazed you can sand them to break the glaze.

I have a brake lathe here and only use it for legal reasons as it is not necessary to turn drums and discs all the time.

DOM

I would never use anything like this silicone between the piston and the pad. The pad is designed to shift when applied, and anything that sticks the piston to the backing will cause twist of the piston. Continuous twisting of the pad wears the piston and the seals and causes premature failure. Even sticky sprays and soft backing on some pads will do the same. Just dont do it.

[Wayne W.]

Re: Brake Squeek

Paul,
In some accidents where the person driving says their brakes failed, they go after the shop that did them and ask why certain things were not done.

All shops turn the drums & discs along with other things to do a complete brake job. If they skip any item that could add to the safety of the job they can be liable.

I was told years ago when I worked for a dealer that we had to do a complete brake job because they were sued for only repairing part of the brake system after inspecting the brakes.

DOM

Sounds like the dealer was giving you the company line they tell customers in order to boost profits.

The fact is, if you have worked on the brakes and they go out and fail causing a crash, you are going to be sued anyway. No matter what you did to them, full repair or otherwise.

[Domenic T.]

Re: Brake Squeek

I would never use anything like this silicone between the piston and the pad. The pad is designed to shift when applied, and anything that sticks the piston to the backing will cause twist of the piston. Continuous twisting of the pad wears the piston and the seals and causes premature failure. Even sticky sprays and soft backing on some pads will do the same. Just dont do it.

Wayne,
That is what ALL the brake pads come with.

It does't stick the piston to the pad, it stops the cricket type vibration like when a cricket rubs it's wings together.

The pressure at the piston to pad is much to high to let them stick together.

You can use the little pack they give you for as gasket sealer as it is the same.

It's silicone, just like the stuff that is used for gaskets.

DOM

[Wayne W.]

Re: Brake Squeek

Wayne,
That is what ALL the brake pads come with.

It does't stick the piston to the pad, it stops the cricket type vibration like when a cricket rubs it's wings together.

The pressure at the piston to pad is much to high to let them stick together.

You can use the little pack they give you for as gasket sealer as it is the same.

It's silicone, just like the stuff that is used for gaskets.

DOM

No matter what comes with the pads, it aint good to use it.

[Domenic T.]

Re: Brake Squeek

No matter what comes with the pads, it aint good to use it.

Yes,
You are right, it isn't the best way to do it.

I didn't do it to my 67 vette because it's a sloppy cure.

I will take the time to do it right on the vette but when it comes to the passenger car, then I do it like they want BuBa to do it.

DOM

[Wayne W.]

Re: Brake Squeek

Yes,
You are right, it isn't the best way to do it.

I didn't do it to my 67 vette because it's a sloppy cure.

I will take the time to do it right on the vette but when it comes to the passenger car, then I do it like they want BuBa to do it.

DOM

Most passenger cars have a different design, and the pad is retained anyway. It probably wont hurt anything on them.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Brake Squeek

Wayne, while the general auto parts stores sell this stuff, the OE's use it too. It a tube of it is in all the really good pad sets I've seen over the last few years.

From the nature of this, it also has graphite, at least that what's I got from the OE engineer. I will say DOM is correct, silicone grease - if you use regular grease on the floating pins of these modern designs, that oil in the grease will swell the o-rings and your braking system will be SOL, pin locks up, does not float, pad jammed on the caliper and a short life of the pad & rotor begins, or ends, depending upon how you look at it.