Squealing Brakes

When ever I change a set of brake pads I accelerate up to about 100 km/h and then brake hard, again up to about 80 km/h and brake hard ect...., I keep doing that quite a few times to bed the pads to the rotor. I would take it back to the workshop and then hose down the brakes to remove the brake dust residue, that's 97% of the time why your brakes would be squealing.

The other 1% and I am thinking you are in this boat is that your brake rotors are glazed due to heavy braking previously and now not allowing the pads to bed into your rotors, this requires machining work to remove the glaze.

The other 1% is the rotors and worn and have a lip cut into them from years of use causing the pad to not apply correctly and also needs machining work.

The other 1% is incorrect assembly.

 

Yep, Ferrari brakes are the most squeal prone I've ever seen.

"When ever I change a set of brake pads I accelerate up to about 100 km/h and then brake hard, again up to about 80 km/h and brake hard ect...., I keep doing that quite a few times to bed the pads to the rotor."

Exactly, when you do this two things happen. The first is the bedding of the pad where the pad and the rotor surfaces become more closely matched. The second and more important is the transfer of brake pad material to the rotor to create a thin coating of pad material.

The few things that worked for are:
1. Rub the new pads on the pavement at a 45 degree angle to break the corners.
2. Apply brake squeal "black stuff" to the contact surface of the pad. This allows the bedding to happen before the material transfer by acting as a lubricant.
3. Use brake pin grease.
4. Use a little "blue goo" behind the pad.

Most important, understand that NOTHING you do will permanently fix the squeal! Life with non squealing brakes on a Ferrari is a journey and not a destination.

You'll find that the squeal will come and go. I used to go nuts trying to "fix" it, but theres nothing to fix. After going through this enough times, I've learned how to fix it in a few minutes of "corrective driving".

 

Hi Dorsey,

Girodisc has a pad that should take care of the squeal, and is a match for the factory performance level.

Give Martin a call at Girodisc, 949-350-6194. He should be able to set you up.

Cheers
Eric

 

I fixed mine (about 2 years ago)

Brake squeal is a resonance that sets up between the caliper and the pad - has normally nothing to do with the contact between the pad & the disk.

All the tips you suggested are good & I'd just add to them to first clean the calipers really well & then de-burr the castings anywhere that the metal part of the brake pad is likely to touch - use small files & 400 grit paper & just take away any obvious high spots.

Then check the edges of the pad backplate & do the same.

Then apply a thin coat of anti-squeal/coppaslip anywhere where the metal backplate of the pad touches the caliper. I used some antisqueal grease made by padgid. You can also buy small sticky pads that fix to the back of the pads as well.

Not sure what exactly fixed my problem, but fixed it was and has remained.

Another option is to change the pads - some sets of pads just don't fit as well as others. If the pads can move around in the caliper a lot then you might consider changing to a different brand.

I.

 

Hello from Germany,

isn't this a bit brute ? All pad manufacturers say, that gentle running in is recommended during the approx. first 300 mls. ( 500 kms ).
My brakes on my 308 GTB squeal as well. Sometimes depending on temperature, climate conditions ( damp or dry ) its more. Sometimes less and sometimes no noises at all.
My brakes are pulling even and strong. So I just don't care about the squealing.

Best Regards

Martin

 

Greetings from Australia Martin.
I have been doing this 'bed in' procedure for over 8 years now and have never had an issue. I reckon its the best way also, but each to their own.
Best wishes Pap

 

Iain wins the prize for understanding what causes brake squeel. Bedding in does not fix the problem. The back of the brake pad which is metal most of the time is the problem when it vibrates against the caliper casting. You can buy some pads that have a non-metal material fused to the back of the pad or you can get "insulator" inserts to put between the back and the caliper or you can use brake grease. also some of the anti-squeel stuff acts as an epoxy barrier. I understand that some race pads do squeel but that is because some of them have high metal content. So fix the backer plates and the squeel will go away. I haven't had any disc brake squeel since my 1960 Triumph and now I can fix that.

 

Also, ceramic pads tend to squeal more than metallic. I have ceramics on the back of my Saab and plan on doing the front soon. I followed the usual precautions upon install (new calipers, chamferred pad edges on grinder, applied blue goo to back of pad) but occasionally I get the slightest squeal when breaking very lightly in bumper traffic. Otherwise no problems.

 

Good to hear mate