Hello Brothers. In January I changed my brake pads on my 348. The stock pads were still on the car and still had plenty of life left on them, but I was getting ready for a track day event in Feb., so I decided to replace them. I had ordered the EBC yellow stuff pads (they claim very little rotor wear), but they didn't get here in time for the track day, so I bought some pads (Porsche 911 pads are the exact same) at the local brake parts house and installed them temporarily to insure I had plenty of pad for the track.. I received the EBC pads the day after the track event and decided to change the temp pads out this last weekend to the new EBC pads. After breaking them in as instructed by EBC, they squeel like HELL. To the point of embarassment. I mean they are LOUD. What does one do here? Should I have sanded the rotors?
Get 'Axxis' pads, very low dust, no squeel, great price and no fade. You don't need to warm them up either. I have used these for fifteen years for 'agressive street' driving.
Surprisingly, the pads are directional. On the back of the pad, you'll notice that the squeal plate (that's my own technical term-you'll see it) goes all the way across one piston and only half way across the other. If they're on backwards, they squeal like crazy-don't ask me how I know.....
My 355 was the same way. I got Porterfield R4's and they are amazing, no noise and no brake dust. I know what you mean by embarassing though.
I changed to porterfield as well. I don't know what the previous owner had in (i think racing pads), but my 348 sounded like a dump truck with light to medium braking. Of course they really grabbed on the track. Portefields have no noise and very little brake dust.
Mine squealed fierce but had the rotors turned and Porterfields installed by Krause & England during my 355 major service and definitly a big difference. I don't know if was so much the pads or the glazing on the rotors or the combination of the two, but no more embarssment coming to a stop.
I bought mine thru myroadster.net and there is a rotor cleaning kit that comes with it and easy to do, well worth it.
How do you know if they are on backwards. I am trying to eliminate my squaling problem and want to make sure that the "squeal plate" is on properly.
There should be an arrow showing direction also. If no squeal pad, but some "anti-squeal" and goop up the back of the pads (it'll come with instructions). If it has the plates IIRC the half-puck side goes on the leading edge (toward the rear of the car-nearest the ground-on the front)
Thanks for the clarification. I am a little lost on the second part though "half puck goes on the leading edge(toward the rear of the car-nearest the ground on the front)" I am sorry but I am a little lost there. Here is where I am at. I removed all my brake pads because of the squealing( I just couldn't take it anymore) I sprayed the red brake pad anti squeal goop on per the instructions, then reinstalled the pads with the squeal shims arrow up with the shimstoward the top of the caliper. The pads are brembo pads. I went for a drive yesterday and gues what-still squeaking. It only squeaks when I push hard on the brakes when coming to a final stop, not when I first engage them. Any thoughts? I really hate to have to replace the pads as they really have a lot of meat on them.
Ok, cool. My car had new rear pads fitted when I bought it. The rear pads would squeal like Jenna Jameson being spit roasted by Evan Stone and Peter North. Rather annoying noise, so before every drive I would hose the rear brakes and would see all the rear brake dust run off in the water. I did this MANY times while the pads "bed in" and the noise eventually goes away. 99% of the time its just brake dust that makes brakes squeal. Have you tried hosing the brakes out before every drive to see how you go?
I think others are happy though. I have had my mechanic sand the pads and do some other stuff to it but to no avail. Sometimes I feel like driving with a brown paper bag over my head - the squealing is embarrassing.