I bought new ceramic pads front and back a few years ago. I replaced the pads with only about 7K on the car when I bought it cause I didn't want to deal with the brake dust from the stock pads. Well, it has had an annoying squeak when brakes are applied. I think it's coming from the rear so I ordered new rotors for the rear to start and wondering even though there is very little wear on the pads, should I replace them as well. When I spray a little WD the squeak goes away for a while. It's annoying enough and gets louder the more you drive the car so, it's time to do something now that I have the time. The brake dust is minimal with the ceramics but willing to go back to originals if necessary to get rid of the noise.....just wondering what ya all think?

 

Do they squeak all the time, or only when applied ?

 

Quit spraying that stuff around your brakes, if it gets on the pads they will be toast.
Take the pads off, clean them free of dust and rust and apply Loctite Disc Brake Quiet Stick or Synthetic Brake Lubricant to the back of the pads. It works, as I had the squeal on my car even with the anti-squeal backing on the pad, I dumped the backing and just used the lubricant.
Result - no squeal.

With the pads off take the time to use the lubricant on the pad sliding areas, pins, springs etc.

 

Also if it is not a daily driver and there is a lot of moisture in the air the rotors can get a bit of rust oxidation on them and they may squeek until it gets worn off. This is more common on the cool, damp winter months.

 

Okay, they squeak when applied and seems to get worse as they heat up so I don't think it's moisture. If the pads are capable of being cleaned I will try that. It's just annoying and it shouldn't do that. It started not long after installation. I've used ceramics before and never ran into this problem on other vehicles.

 

I put EBC "Red Stuff" pads on mine about 3 years ago - low dust and have never squeaked.

 

It has nothing to do with the type of pad, it's how they were installed. With out lubricant on the back of the pad, any pad will squeek.

 

Am I missing something? How does applying lubricant to the back of the pad result in no brake squeal when it's the pad touching the rotor that is causing it when the brakes are applied. I have used a red brake pad quiet substance before and that helped brake noise but I never heard of it for squeal?

 

Its kinda like running your finger around the wine glass...the friction causes it to "sing" or make the noise( vibrate). The pads are doing the same thing, they are transferring the friction through the pad and its vibrating at the connection..where the pad and the caliper meet. The lube is more like a paste that stops the vibration singing or squealing what everyone refer too.

 

I've got the same problem with squealing! Good point about applying on backside of the pads. My biggest complaint is "sooo much brake dust" on my wheels! I've had my car for about a month now and don't know what disc pads are installed. I'm assuming ceramic. Gonna have to find a rim cleaner that "actually" works.

 

If you have "so much brake dust", then the pads are probably not ceramic.
Get some Akebono or EBC Red Stuff ceramic pads, and new rotors also while you are at it.

 

Ok! I just ordered the Akebono pads, 2 new rotors and Locktite Stick. The disks have 89k miles on them so it's probably cheaper just get new disks instead of having the old ones turned. Guess we'll see how things work out in 2-3 weeks. The picture doesn't really show how bad they really are. Thanks

 

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I added 'Centric Posi-Quiet' pads front and rear and brake dust disappeared.


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Good deal. Nobody turns rotors anymore that I am aware of, new ones are relatively inexpensive.