Squeaking brake noise???

[Iceman]

I have what sounds like a brake squeak but only when I am making a kind od sweeping turn to the right. I am not sure if it is right or left side but could this be a caliper issue? I'm hoping that's all it is but I just started noticing it and have not yet figured it out. I did grease all the bushings and hangers and the other usual sounds have been emliminated. It's not too bad but I hate these types of things on my car.

Any ideas???

[Tommy Gun]

I blast out all the dust w/ air every now and then and it stops the noise sometimes. Just a suggestion.

.

[The Bone]

Check the pads if it is even close to the wear sensor the pad may move just enough to make it squeak

[Alloy Dave]

Check the pads if it is even close to the wear sensor the pad may move just enough to make it squeak

This is true. There are several things that can cause this Chris. First check pads as Bone says, see if they are nearly worn out.

If not, you may have a rotor runout issue...you can do this the difficult way by removing wheel, putting wheel lugs on and tightening them gently to maybe 5-10 lb.*ft, then use a dial indicator to check runout as you rotate the rotor (check both inside and outside of rotor). I don't know what the spec is, but I'd say about .008" is all you should see, maybe even less. if more, you'll need the rotors resurfaced.

If that's not it, remove caliper, clean the caliper pins, grease them, and reinstall. Make sure all retaining springs on the pads are in good shape.

Good luck, brake squeal can be difficult to fix, even the slightest out of spec item can cause it.

[Iceman]

thanks - would it matter that is is not when I apply the brakes. It is just the sweeping right hand turn with no brakes...the easy fix is turn the radio up or hit the gas but I hate to just not hear it now that I know it's there. I'll try to pull the brakes and blow them out etc. after the belt change is done (again).

[Carnut]

It could also be a wheel bearing, without hearing the "squeak" is hard to tell, if it is still there after all the above is checked, jack it up a rotate the axle with the caliper off.

I would also make sure there is not a squirrel in your trunk.

[Alloy Dave]

thanks - would it matter that is is not when I apply the brakes. It is just the sweeping right hand turn with no brakes...the easy fix is turn the radio up or hit the gas but I hate to just not hear it now that I know it's there. I'll try to pull the brakes and blow them out etc. after the belt change is done (again).

yes it matters. that's why I don't think it's rotor finish/glazing. When you make the turn, you're putting ever so slight stress on some of the parts and causing them to move just a tad.

How many miles on the pads? Mostly city I assume?

One other potential cause is a backing plate rubbing. This is normally not an issue but if you've changed things like struts, different brakes, wheel offset, etc....any of those things may be the cause...check this clearance with your finger when the car is jacked up with the wheel still on...then also check it with wheel removed to see if it's close to the rotor. Anything closer than 1/8" and you may have found the issue.

[hellfyr]

Could also be a caliper that is not fully retracting. Just got done with that issue myself.

[Alloy Dave]

Could also be a caliper that is not fully retracting. Just got done with that issue myself.

You mean the piston not retracting? that is very rare. Did that happen on your GT500? I worked on brakes for 12 years and saw that twice...both time on Chryslers with phenolic pistons. :yellowcard3:

[hellfyr]

Correct, piston... was on my 04 cobra

Was a good excuse to swap in a 2000 Cobra "R" brake kit. :)

[Alloy Dave]

Correct, piston... was on my 04 cobra

Was a good excuse to swap in a 2000 Cobra "R" brake kit. :)

Did you ever find out why it was hanging up? Had to be either severe rust in the bore, or a severely misinstalled square cut o-ring seal.

I'll tell you one thing....when they stick, it causes mayhem. The wheels will get red hot, the car pulls to one side, and in general it feels like you're driving a 68 VW van with the e-brake stuck on and 20" tires on the right side and 17" tires on the left. :yellowcard3:

[Iceman]

I fixed the noise today. I am happy that it is gone though I can't pinpoint exactly what it was I have 2 candidates that stick out as likely.

1. I noticed when taking apart the brake that the front bolt while tightened in had a gap from the par with the piston not being fully alined right.
2. When I removed the pads the clips/spacer things had one tab that was not bent back at 90 egrees like the others. It was mostly flat and stuck out towards the rotor.

I tend to think #1 was the true culprit as the rotor does not show any type of metal on metal grinding or anything but what ever it was the sound is gone and the car has no sqeaks that I heard of any kind....and it still stops (which after taking apart the brakes myself is surprising in itself).

[Gr8snkbite]

good job Chris...i know the annoyance of it was madness...

[Alloy Dave]

I fixed the noise today. I am happy that it is gone though I can't pinpoint exactly what it was I have 2 candidates that stick out as likely.

1. I noticed when taking apart the brake that the front bolt while tightened in had a gap from the par with the piston not being fully alined right.
2. When I removed the pads the clips/spacer things had one tab that was not bent back at 90 egrees like the others. It was mostly flat and stuck out towards the rotor.

I tend to think #1 was the true culprit as the rotor does not show any type of metal on metal grinding or anything but what ever it was the sound is gone and the car has no sqeaks that I heard of any kind....and it still stops (which after taking apart the brakes myself is surprising in itself).
Sounds like either of those could have caused the noise. Glad you fixed it, nothing worse than whining squealing.

[6-Speed]

I fixed the noise today. I am happy that it is gone though I can't pinpoint exactly what it was I have 2 candidates that stick out as likely.

1. I noticed when taking apart the brake that the front bolt while tightened in had a gap from the par with the piston not being fully alined right.
2. When I removed the pads the clips/spacer things had one tab that was not bent back at 90 egrees like the others. It was mostly flat and stuck out towards the rotor.

I tend to think #1 was the true culprit as the rotor does not show any type of metal on metal grinding or anything but what ever it was the sound is gone and the car has no sqeaks that I heard of any kind....and it still stops (which after taking apart the brakes myself is surprising in itself).
The notches on the face of the rear caliper piston has to be aligned like this prior to installing the caliper. One of the notches fits onto a pin on the backside of the in-board brake pad.

Is this the piston alignment issue you are referring to in #1?

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh154/Six_Speed/piston_aligned.jpg

[Iceman]

That part was right. Issue was either the whole unit in the pic was not seated right when the 2 bolts wre put in or one of the spacers was bent wrong and hitting the rotor. It's taken care of now more through trial and error than knowing anything but the noise is gone :)

[6-Speed]

That part was right. Issue was either the whole unit in the pic was not seated right when the 2 bolts wre put in or one of the spacers was bent wrong and hitting the rotor. It's taken care of now more through trial and error than knowing anything but the noise is gone :)
There is a flat spot on the opening of the guide pins that must be aligned with a flat edge on the caliper mounting flange as shown here. I guess if a guide pin wasn't aligned properly the caliper might not seat right. Glad you got it fixed.

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh154/Six_Speed/Guide_Pin_Alignment.jpg

[Iceman]

that is where it was exactly