Squeaky Brakes

[Sydneykid]

There are 2 sets of shims for each calliper. One is stainless steel and slows the heat transfer from the pad to the piston, and thus to the brake fluid. The other is mild steel and acts as an anti rattle plate by isolating the dust from between the pad backer and the piston.

It has been my experience that most squeel from brakes is due to dust, grit and dirt build up between the pad backing plate and the calliper (especially piston). This allows the pad to vibrate at high frequency, shuffle on the rotor and cause the squeel. Occasionally I have seen loose wheel bearings also contribute to this problem in much the same way, by starting the vibration via the rotor.

Regardless of whether or not you have brake squeel, it is not a good idea to leave out the stainless shim as this will exacerbate the heat transfer and cause premature brake fuild failure.

Bottom, find some shims and put them in and clean the callipers thorougly while you are at it.

cheers

Edited September 9, 2005 by Sydneykid

[someonestolecc]

Have any of you tried the PBR anti squeel glue stuff.

It comes in a small black tube, I use this also. I forget to mention.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What exactly does this do? Does it sit between the piston and the pad?

If I've lost my shims, the ones that look like a rectangular piece of metal with a slight 90 bend with about 5mm...(see diagram) can I just stick on some aluminium sheet to the back of it with this anti squeel glue?

diagram of shim I've lost.

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What grit sandpaper do you use on the pad if you're de-glazing it? Is it advisable to give your rotor a bit of a sand as well?

I'm hoping to fix that squeek that happens every rotation at slow speeds as well :\

[Abo Bob]

Well I did what I said. It has been reduced to a light sqeak now.

Interestingly, for the first 2/3 of the track day they made no noise but it came back later on.

I have ordered some shims now. Cost me $60 for proper non generic ones.

I think I used 800 grit wet and dry cc.

Sydneykid. What do you clean the calipers with? Some sort of spray on brake cleaner? Is it corrosive? Anything to watch out for?

[Sydneykid]

Sydneykid.  What do you clean the calipers with?  Some sort of spray on brake cleaner?  Is it corrosive?  Anything to watch out for?

Brake cleaner, keep it off the painted surfaces though.

cheers

[someonestolecc]

Well I did what I said.  It has been reduced to a light sqeak now.

Interestingly, for the first 2/3 of the track day they made no noise but it came back later on.

I have ordered some shims now.  Cost me $60 for proper non generic ones.

I think I used 800 grit wet and dry cc.

Sydneykid.  What do you clean the calipers with?  Some sort of spray on brake cleaner?  Is it corrosive?  Anything to watch out for?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the info.

Where did you order them? I got told they come as part of a shim kit for brakes and the whole lot costs $150-200 and comes with a whole bunch of stuff I don't need (I only need the 4 shims).

Brake cleaner, keep it off the painted surfaces though.

cheers

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Is it okay to use that on the rotor or no need?

[Sydneykid]

Thanks for the info.

Where did you order them? I got told they come as part of a shim kit for brakes and the whole lot costs $150-200 and comes with a whole bunch of stuff I don't need (I only need the 4 shims).

Is it okay to use that on the rotor or no need?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Abolutely, use it on the rotors and the brake pads if they need cleaning.

cheers