Brake Pad Squeeking

[r_i_d_a_h]

i have this squeeking noise coming from the rear driver side wheel and the squeeking comes in intervals and the faster i go the faster the squeaks although when i press the brakes it goes away.

Anyway i took the caliper off and took a look at the pads, i found that the outter brake pad surface wasnt all smooth compared to the inner pad, there was an area on the pad where it felt really rough, i've cirlced the rough area in yellow in the pic (the picture is just an example).

is this the culprit for my squeeking problem??

[jules]

check that there is a steel shim behind the pad. last time i forgot to replace the backing shims they squealed like a pig

from memory the reason was that the shims didn't come with the replacement pads, i had to transfer them from the old ones.

[r_i_d_a_h]

is that the metal sheet that sits between the inner pad and the piston? if so yeah its in place.


whats the minium thickness for a rear VS rotor??

[jules]

not sure.

the other reason is just that the wear profile on the disc is different from the new pad (which is flat). in time it may bed in and stop squeaking.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

The rough area on the pad could just be inconsistent pad composition when manufactured. It may contribute to squealing. The reason pads squeal is vibration. It sound's as though you may have a sticky slide or the piston isn't retracting far enough when you release the brakes. Simple fix is to remove the caliper and clean up and regrease the slides with something like never seize. If it is the piston, then you will need to put a kit through it, which is just replacing the rubber O ring inside the caliper and the dust seal. Because the noise is like squeak squeak squeak....you rotor is warped or it has heat spots, the thickness isn't uniform through out the whole disc.

[r_i_d_a_h]

ahh yes i recall now, i had a mechanic take it for a drive and he mentioned that i need to regrease the slides. a diagram/picture of the 'slide' would be helpful...

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

The slides are the pins that the two parts of the caliper move in and out on. They are bolted to one half and slide into the other half. Once you unbolt the caliper from the car you will see what the slide is.

[r_i_d_a_h]

i took off the caliper yesterday and to my find i noticed that only the top slide-pin pulls off and the one on the bottom is like dead-set stuck, i cant seem to pull it out or is this normal?

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

No, it means the slide is seized. You will have to get it apart, usually with a hammer, but gently, and the clean all the grey looking crap out of it, wet'n'dry the pin so it's shiny, then re grease them.

[r_i_d_a_h]

any tips on how to clean the housing in which the pin slides in?? and on the subject which brand of pads is most suitable for my VS? ..regular driving condtions through town with least brake dust?

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

I use a piece of rolled up wet'n'dry and water. Usually cleans it up pretty good. Wipe as much of the crap out with a rag first. Put the rag over a small screw driver and twist it around in there. As for pads, I do RDA pads for $25 plus postage. Not much dust, pretty good pad.

[r_i_d_a_h]

thanx a heap for that! just asking, how much for a rear set to suit soild axle?

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

They would be $25 plus postage. I would probably say around $6 or $7.

[r_i_d_a_h]

would you happen to have bendix 'premium'? and do you have rotors to along with aswell?

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

I mainly do RDA pads, the compounds are just as good as Bendix, Ferodo and a lot of the other general duty pads on the market. I do rotors too, $40 each.

[bradcad]

Yeah I've got to say with bendix pads- I really dont know if they have changed but I had the Ultimate Policepads. Stopped like crazy but dusted like insane. When I got sick of wiping the mags down dayly I ended up with a crust of dust ready to be polished off. A couple of hours work to look forward to!

[r_i_d_a_h]

so would you guys strongly recommend RDA's?

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

I would say they are just as good as any other general use pad. I have never had any problems with them, and they produce less dust.

[r_i_d_a_h]

with rotors, my VS has 10 holes on each rotor, i heard from this forum that its recommended to purchase the same type or is the 10 holes standard with every VB-VS rear rotor?

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

You have drilled rotors? They are not standard. Are they slotted too?

[r_i_d_a_h]

no no, what i meant was the holes which the 5 studs go thru that bolt the wheel on. i have 10 holes

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Oh, OK. The reason they have ten holes is to idiot proof them. Most rotors have five holes for the studs and one to adjust the handbrake shoes. You have to put the rotor on in the right position for the hole to line up with the hole on the axle. With the ten hole ones, it doesn't matter, a hole will always line up. I can get both.