Brake noise (squeak) at very low speed

staskaya · #1 09-19-2011, 04:21 PM

Hi Guys,

My neighbor helped me installed my rear rotors/brakes recently, he has done many brake work on other cars so I'm pretty sure him and I've installed the breaks/rotors properly, after 500mil. There is still high pitch squeak coming from them at very low speed. Looking for some suggestions to fix the noise.

Cheers,

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JCL · #2 09-19-2011, 04:36 PM

Squeal is caused by the vibration of the pad when it rubs on the rotor, with the vibration being transferred to the carrier/caliper assembly.

If the rotor surface finish is good (new, clean) and the pads have been bedded in (to adapt them to the new surface) then the next step in resolving a squeal is to isolate the pad from the carrier assembly. Squeal is often transmitted via the 'ears' of the pads, as that is what stops them from rotating with the rotor. The ears and the mating surfaces on the carrier assembly must be clean of rust and crud, and then coated with a special high temperature grease designed for brake parts. That usually solves it.

If it doesn't, then confirm back what pads you installed. Are they stock, or are they a pad composition that could be more prone to squealing?

Good luck

Jeff

staskaya · #3 09-20-2011, 09:44 AM

I appreciate the suggestions Jeff....

killcrap · #4 09-20-2011, 10:03 AM

did u adjust the parking brake shoes after installing new rotors?

staskaya · #5 09-20-2011, 10:08 AM

Thanks for the suggestion Killcrap

Squeaking only comes on when I hit the brakes at low speeds.....I know my neighbor adjust the e-brakes when we remove the old rotors but do you think E-brakes still come on when I hit my breaks at low speed? I thought E-brakes only come on when I pull the E-brake arm...Does E-brake come on when I hit the brakes too??? Maybe that is the issue, maybe its too tight and needs to be adjusted, please advice, I'm learning as I go.....

JCL · #6 09-20-2011, 06:59 PM

The parking brakes are a completely separate system, and they do not come on when you apply the service brakes.

Originally you said that you had a squeal at low speed. Killcrap's question is a good one, because if the squeal was not changed directly by brake application, it could be due to the parking brake shoes being too tight.

If the squeal is only upon service brake application, I would worry less about the parking brake adjustment. It is still worth making sure that they are not too tight, but that is likely a separate issue, not the squeal, IMO.

killcrap · #7 09-21-2011, 09:27 AM

are the brakes original equipment? or aftermarket?

staskaya · #8 09-21-2011, 12:17 PM

Thanks for your feedback guys....

Good question far as aftermarket or oem part, which I'm waiting on a feed back from the seller too, I was sold as this item being a match for my vehicle, I've not heard back from the seller and can't find much info about the brakes from the receipt. So because its making noise I'm going to guess its aftermarket part that works on similar SUV's.... Do the OEM brakes make any noise, in the beginning or after some usage??

JCL · #9 09-21-2011, 01:52 PM

OE will be quietest, and are of high quality. That is OE, not OEM, which gets confused as OE sometimes. There are many different pad compositions, and one manufacturer can make several different pads, so the safest is to use OE.

OE means in a BMW box, where ever you buy it from. (Unless it is a counterfeit part, which can happen, if you are dealing with smaller or unknown vendors)
OEM means from a supplier that also makes parts for BMW, but the ones you buy are not necessarily the same as the ones in the BMW box. Good examples are filters and oil.
Aftermarket means that it is designed to fit physically, and the performance characters may be similar, or not at all similar.

Only downside to OE is the dust.

If they were sold as being a match to your vehicle, odds are the only thing that matches is the physical size. Very unlikely that they are the OE pad compound.

There are some good aftermarket pads, and some OK aftermarket pads, and some bad ones, simply because they are primarily sold based on a price point.

When you say 'seller' I think of ebay and similar sites, which are full of junk parts.

scchang · #10 09-21-2011, 06:30 PM

Quick question: I have 50% left on my brakes according to trusted mechanic. Not sure if that refers to pads or rotors or both. I have had a low speed squeal as well which I attribute to aftermarket (low dust) pads. Rotors and pads were changed at the same time. Can I safely change just the pads to OE?

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