Ok so I had the brakes changed 2 times already, when I got them done the 2nd time, the guy changed the front rotors and pads, and the brakes were quiet for about a month... and for the last month and a half, the front brakes have been squealing really badly when pressing the brake at low speeds in forward and reverse (seems to be worse in reverse).. it's not a pad indicator squeal, but it's more of a louder, deeper squeal.. also, when I'm driving by cars in a parking lot, or next to a building, I can hear a light metal on metal rubbing as I go by with no brake applied... there is no squeal at all when I hit the brakes when I'm at higher speeds.. but anything under 15mph squeals so bad. any ideas?

thanks
-Justin

 

Ok, just some thoughts. Since you didn't do the work yourself, we have to make some assumptions. If a pro did the job, that means it should be a good job, and he would also replace the hardware, ie no worries for another 50k+. But you've had 2 jobs done and the same result.

Well, what kind of replacement parts were used? Because rotors for the front can be as cheap as $19.99, and pads as little as $20.99--go to a place like Autozone and you'll find those low prices. It's pretty scary. My hunch is the squeal is caused by cheap replacement parts. Not sure what the guarantee is, but I'd tell him either fix it right or put the old stuff back on. OR, that you will give him genuine Nissan parts to install and he eats the labor and takes the current parts back. You can get the OEM at a 25% discount with no tax or shipping, so it's a very reasonable price. I just know that I have OEM pads front and rear, and I did not replace the hardware and was fine, with the old rotors too. Good luck.

 

i'm not sure what type of parts he used... but I'll ask him when I take the car back... I've learned one thing from this experience.. never again will I trust a shop for brakes...ever...

 

Make sure they use ceramic pads, if they are semi-matallic they'll squeek like crazy.

 

im definitely going to ask for ceramic pads... i need quiet brakes!

 

my brembo does minor squeals when it gets hot, but it's not noticible unless you roll down the window and listen to it carefully.

you can try to follow motorvate's instruction regarding cleaning the braking assembly if u want... hopefully that'll help.

 

thanks for the help guys

happyrice, how much were your brembos?

 

Sounds like they used cheap brakes. I remember I bought some cheap brakes one time and installed them... what a mistake that was...

They squealed like pigs getting their tails pulled off at every light. It was embarassing how I would have to adjust pedal pressure every time I stopped just so they wouldnt squeal. Not only that, but they would dust all over the place, it was horrible. I wouldnt even go as far as to get ceramic pads, they tend to need a little heat to get them working which is okay I guess for city driving but it just isnt practical. What I would do is check to see if they used shims.. if not find out what type of brakes were used. Get a good set of Bendix or Raybestos or Wagner pads and you'll be fine. All the good brands come with shims and you can tell their quality as soon as you install them.

 

the new set of pads has also started to chew the -new- rotors up...

 

hint hint. i just had a new wheel bearing replaced today. I thought it was the brakes also. my bad.

take it into a shop and have the bearings checked out. i was having the same noise as you until it went from a squeaking to a klunking noise.

 

lastboyscout, how much did it cost you? you also heard a metal on metal rubbing sound when passing things?

 

around $250 shipped for all 4 i believe...

 

I feel you man, I spent around $400 in new rotors, brake pads, and brand new piston calipers. It was messed up bro, I they resurfaced my rear rotors cause I was too cheap to buy new ones, well when that happened, everything seemed great, I drove off, and i thought I was home free (brake job for under $60. SWEET!) nah, all of sudden you I heard a crack on the tire. I was like WTF, it sounded nasty, I drove back to the guy who did my job. My rotor had borken in two. SO then I was F-cked, I needed new rotors, but it wasnt only that, my rear caliper were really hard to adjust. Actually they were rusted solid, so they wouldnt turn far enough to put the brake pads on. So I went to Oreilys, and I had to pay around $175ea + $40 for each rotor + $30 for two sets of pads.. So there went my money. Anyhow it could also be a piece of sand stuck in the brake pad, that happened to me when I went to the island, it took around 4days for it to finally come off. I pressured washed those brakes, drove really fast, and braked hard, everything. A little bit of both worked, and the squealing stopped. Theres nothing worse than cruising strip for ladys in your nice pimped out max , with loud nasty squealing brakes...

 

I dont know what i would be looking at cost wise this time. I had my front axel replaced about 6 months ago, and i seemed to get a defective wheel bearing. I would guess anywherer from $200 to $300 after labor.

here is what i had been hearing.

when i slow down, especially at low speeds, a long squeeking noise. it would make a little squeek when i starded driving again.

at slightly higher speeds, it would squeek when going thru corners or stopping hard.

then to make things worse, about 3 days ago, it went from squeeking to klunking. klunking when i stop, klunking when i go.

and this whole time i thought it was brakes. being broke, i let the problem slide.

turned out i got lucky this time. defective part.

go to any competent place, or a brake place like meinike. someplace that does free brake inspection. They will either say your good, or your not. if you get them replaced, and still hear the noise, you fixed one problem, and now need to get the bearing fixed.

hate to say it, but it could be the joint effort of more than one problem.

 

do cheap rotors effect this? i just bought new rotors at Pep-boys for like 24 bucks a rotor... i dont do any auto Xing or anything, i just do daily city driving..

was this a bad idea? i havent installed em yet and they are still in the box, they had raybestos rotors for like 80 bucks a pop... i was like, uh no..ill get the cheaper ones... the guy told me that all i was paying for was the name, is he an idiot?

cause im having the same problem as you....cept i think my rotors are warped....so i just bought new ones with new pads (pads were ready to be replaced)

 

Hey....your car doesn't look yellow anymore!


No! You don't need to get rotors that are like $80 a piece. that is too much. I have the cheap rotors. They are just as good for street driving. It is more of the pads and their make-up on whether or not the brakes squeal.
You ought to be good if you get some good pads. I have had EBC Greenstuff, and now Raybestos QuietStop pads and both are good.