Brake squeal - solutions

[Jester]

Has anyone experienced brake squeal on their FFR and how did you solve this? My rear brakes - mainly drivers side tend to squeal when coming to a stop. I read that a by grinding a small 45 degree chamfer along the edges of the pads will help control brake dust build up (the cause of the squeal).

Suggestions and solutions welcome

Thx

[skullandbones]

My Toyota metallic pads came that way (chamfered edge). Have you considered either the pads and/or the rotors might be slightly glazed just on the one side? If the rotor or pad surface looks different (sort of glass like) from the good passenger side, it's possible. You can scuff the pads a little if it is not too bad. Sometimes that will get the seating process started back the way it should be. I'd scuff the pads and clean the rotor first. Good luck, WEK.

[Bob Cowan]

Disc brake squeal is usually caused by Th pads vibrating in the caliper. Usually the outboard pad, away from the piston.

Take the pad out, and clean the contact surfaces on the pad and caliper. I wire brush first, then use brake cleaner. Apply a small amount of anti-squeal solution - it's like a glue. Put it back together, and let it sit over night before driving. That usually fixes the problem.

I used to have a '01 Dakota. I had to do this to the front brakes about once a year.

[Jester]

Thanks for the feedback WEK / Bob,

I have chamfered, cleaned and used anti-squeal goop on the rear pads. The tricky part is the park brake cable / tensioner with the stock Mustang park brake handle. There is a spring release lever on the stock Mustang park brake handle which releases the tension on the park brake cable and allows easy removal of the cable from the calliper to access the calliper bolts to remove the brake pads etc.

Thx

[msmith6773]

one thing to do is to not use the brakes haha, sorry i had to

[CraigS]

I will probably get some people who say NEVER do anything like this but what the heck. Get a tube of valve grinding compound and a brush about 3/8 inch wide. Paint both sides of the rotors covering about 50% of each surface. Drive the car and see if it helps. I cured a couple hundred lexus cars over 20 years using this technique. It has no downsides and works quite well. Even if it's not 100%, it's at least 90% successfull in my experience.

[Jester]

Thanks for the feedback WEK / Bob,

I have chamfered, cleaned and used anti-squeal goop on the rear pads. The tricky part is the park brake cable / tensioner with the stock Mustang park brake handle. There is a spring release lever on the stock Mustang park brake handle which releases the tension on the park brake cable and allows easy removal of the cable from the calliper to access the calliper bolts to remove the brake pads etc.

Thx

Update: finished the front brakes as per rear brakes (above) and squeal is gone. Brakes work great.

When I installed the brakes, I installed as per FFR instructions - no mention of anti-squeal brake solution - manual should be updated to insure proper lube on pins and anti-squeal solution applied

Thx

[Gumball]

I once heard a Porsche tech told a customer who was complaining that his super-duper, fancy competition brakes were squealing that "zee mufflers are to make zee car quvieter, zee brakes are to make it schtop."