Why are My Brakes *STILL* Squealing?
 

A while ago, My brakes were squealing while driving, and they would stop when I pressed the brake. I checked the pads and they had plenty of pad left, but they were in crappy conition. I replaced them with regular AutoZone pads. I put them on with the anti-squeal stuff they gave me.

A few days ago they starting squealing again. This time while I pushed the brake, and if I pushed harder, it would stop. I then caked on anti-squeal stuffon the pads again.

Now today, they are at it again. Same thing as above (squealing while brake is pushed).

1.) What causes the brakes to squeal?

2.) Would resurfacing the rotors be a cure?

3.) How can I fix the squealing?


I'm this >--< close to shooting my car. :| I love the car when it's problem free.

Thx for the input, guys.

Try going about 70mph and slamming on the brakes, it should help...

Tried that. Multipule times. :|

this happind to me to.!!!! i changed them with lordco pads! and stil squeeked. now im just going to go with a difrent more high quality brand!

also did u turn ya rotors?

I've done several brake jobs on TIIs. In both cases I used stock Mazda pads. On one I resurfaced the rotors, on the other I didn't (they were pretty smooth already). Neither set squeaked at all. So....my advice....use OEM pads. You can get them at Mazdaformance.com or your local Mazda dealer. If you race your car at all, you should become a Mazdacomp member. You can then get stock parts (pads in this case) at a substantial discount (usually about 55% of what the dealer charges).

Todd

As you have stated, after putting anti-squeal solution on the back the noise stops for a few days. It's not the lining material, it's the back rubbing against the piston(s). What type of caliper? Single or 4 piston?

Clean the calipers.

After a while, corrosion and brake dust build up on the calipers. This makes the break pads hang up as the travel. Pay close attention to the areas where the pads slide (front and back) and the piston it's self. Are any of your pistons sticking?

You also said that you did the "slam the brakes on at 70mph" a few times. If you did this when the pads were new, THAT is your problem. If you don't break in the pads (ie use them lightly for a few days) then they will squeal. The surface of thje pad basically gets cooked, and you end up with a "glaze" over the surface of the pad. You have to sand this glaze off with a belt sander or something.

check the rotors. if they have been resurfaced it needs to be bitten by your pads. if their not resurfaced then that could be you problem. i was able to emliminate the sound by taking my rotors to a machine shop ( i don't really trust n e one else) after i changed my pads.

squealing comes from vibration.

A few causes:

1) rotor not true (need to be rotated. sometimes, it's just more convenient to just replace the rotors, since it's pretty cheap)

2) "guaranteed-for-life" metallic pads. those are likely to squeal no matter what.

3) old sticking calipers

4) bad pad springs or clips

5) lack of anti-squeal compound in the back (from what I read, you already put plenty of it)

and probably a few more I can't think of.

Hugues -

Get OEM pads, but until then, spray them down with some brake cleaner. Also try going in reverse and hitting the brakes a few times, sometimes that clears it up for a while.

drive down the highway at a fairly decent speed and two foot it one on the gas one on the brakes this will take quite a bit off the pads but squeeling will most likely go away. I worked as a lot boy at a chrysler dealership and if someone came in thinking they needed new brakes cuz they were squeeling the mechanics would check the pads and if they wernt bad they would send me to do this and it worked allmost every time

My old pads had that metal sheet that cliped to the back of them. At first I didn't know what they were for.

I put those on the back of my new brakes, and caked on the anti-squeal stuff.

Drove all day without a squeak. Hopefully, it doesn't start again.

Thx guys.

I'd say that a good brake job should include at least the following:
1.) Resurface / Replace Rotors
2.) New OEM pads
3.) New hardware kit from Mazda (includes the "metal sheets, springs, and the metal clips that provide the sliding surface for the pads).
4.) Cleaning of all surfaces.

Hope your problem is solved.
Good luck.

Todd