Help Me Fix My Brakes, Please...

[JasonRR]

Infinity G35 Coupe w/ Brembos

A couple of months ago, my front brakes started to squeel. The pads had been replaced a few months prior, but I didn't use any of the "anti-squeel" shit on the back of the pads. So I take em apart and put a light coat on the back of the pads. Still squeeling. Back apart and lubed everything really well, still squeeling. I notice on the passenger side that there is a wear pattern on the rotor, where the pads aren't contacting the rotor on the very outside and inside diameters of the rotor. Odd.

I thought I contaminated the pad with the grease or something, so I pulled them back apart and took the rotors down to O'Rileys and had them turned. They are Stoptech rotors that I put on after the factory Brembos needed replacing, and they're slotted (Brembos weren't), so the guy said it took him longer, but they looked good. I took the pads and ran them across some 100 grit sandpaper, so I had fresh pad material contacting fresh rotors. That had to have fixed the problem, right?

Well, it did for a couple of days...then the squeel came back. Now there's a wear pattern on the DRIVER rotor, right in the center of the disk. I can see the machining marks from when they turned the rotor, so the pad just isn't contacting there (that's my only guess).

I decided I had enough of jacking up the car and getting all full of brake dust as I pulled everything apart, so I took it to Just Brakes in Lewisville to get their opinion. They insisted on putting it up on the lift and going over the whole car, and after trying to upsell me on a few things, told me that the rotors weren't true (Had high and low spots) and that was the problem. They said they couldn't be turned again (although I know they didn't measure them), and that I needed new rotors ($550/pair from Brembo, but they got cheapies for $175/pair). And I need new pads too, apparently.

So has anyone ever seen a wear pattern like this on their rotors? I don't totally buy that the rotors are bad, and can't understand why I'd need new pads (they're not cheap for the Brembos either). I got the strong feeling they were just trying to make a sale, as I was the only person in the whole shop. If I let them replace all the components, I'm sure it'll solve the problem. But I'd like to get this figured out and resolved without simply buying all new shit, unless it's needed.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

[JimD]

IMO if you turn rotors or install new ones...you replace the pads.. check the calipers for sticking and rubber brake lines for soft spots.

[dville_gt]

our c6 brakes would squeal too, thought it needed pads but when i got it apart the pads were great. turns out the seals that keep the slide pins sealed up had backed up and all the grease was gone from inside. did you make sure all the slides were good and greased up?

[SC457A]

Brake noise is a strange thing and at times very difficult to fix. Most manufactors say some is normal. I am going to guess with the amount of work you are doing you do not want any. Keep in mind Brembo styled brakes are generally a "performance version". Its a compromise of performance/noise.

Simplest cause of squeal is basically vibration in the pads/calipers/brake rotors. You said the pads were replaced, same brand and type?

Generally uneven pad wear is rotor surface not being cut properly/warped/ cut out of parrellism/sticking or binding caliper/ pins/pistons, installing previously worn pads on a freshly machined rotor (different wear patterns already established)

I put 70,000 miles on my Cobra's stock brakes, quiet as ever. Installed new OEM Ford rotors and pads, front and rear. Now the fronts make noise at certain temps and braking pressures...

[JasonRR]

Yeah, I made sure and greased the pins, but there really aren't that too many other moving pieces in those Brembo calipers. They're like a motorcycle front brake, where the pins go through the "eyes" on the brake pads and are held in place with a cotter pin. I greased the pins with a light film of that anti-squeel compound and used it liberally on the backs of the pads.

I'd almost be OK tolerating a little noise, but since there is such a prominent wear pattern on the rotor, something else has got to be going on.

I was gonna go back to O'Rileys and let them know what happened (cause Just Brakes is blaming them, although I don't totally believe them either), but I'm not sure what it'll accomplish. I might just go to bitch and vent though...that usually helps.

Worst case, I'll buy a new set of rotors and pads. I just don't feel like I should have to, and the wear pattern is still confusing. The rotors were not that old, then turned back to new (essentially), and the pads scuffed. Shoulda been OK, but I'm not. Fuck me. I hate this shit.

[SC457A]

FYI.... Just because they were machined, does not mean they were cut properly.

I would say measure runout/ and rotor thickness for any variences or out of parrellism issues, but most people do not have those tools.

I figured Brembo style caliper had fixed caliper types with 4 pistons but was not 100% sure so through out the slide pin issues.

Just Brakes usually are Satan when it comes to brake work. UPSELL! Saw an Escort the customer brought to shop, said calipers were leaking. Looked... found nothing. All clean, dry. Called the owner, and then called Just ripoffs, Turns out the "Tech" said they were leaking internally. and literally added at the end of that statement, if not now, they will be soon.

[blackedv]

have u tried bedding the pads real good? ive solved many a brake squeal with just rebedding

[JasonRR]

I went back into O'Rileys and talked to the old dude manager who turned my rotors. He suggested that the pads may not be level anymore after I sanded them. I don't totally buy it, but the next step for me is to buy new rotors and pads and just say fuck it. So I went out in a big empty parking lot and did about 6 HARD stops from 60mph. I figured it couldn't do any harm, especially if I'm gonna be replacing the parts anyways. Haven't heard a squeal yet, and I'll just have to keep an eye on the rotors to see if the wear pattern goes away.