My brakes squeal when applied when they're cold, but when they get
hotter, eg especially after a motorway run, the front right squeals
quite a lot until I start braking.

Additionally if I turn to the right, the squeal goes away. The intensity
and longevity of said squealing increases the further/faster I travel
and 50mph appears to be the sweet spot for most noise.

There is a lip (minor - about 1mm) on the brake disc, but the pads
appear to have at least half their thickness. The pads have been on the
car for 2 and a half years.

a) what could be causing it?
b) does the squealing at least suggest some sort of contact, therefore
friction, therefore reduced mpg?
c) could the pads overheat and reduce in effectiveness?
d) given say 10,000 miles per year, with the pads 2 and a half years
old, is it worth getting the pads changed? should i think about changing
the disks?

On Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:56:56 -0000, Simon Dean
wrote:

My brakes squeal when applied when they're cold, but when they get
hotter, eg especially after a motorway run, the front right squeals
quite a lot until I start braking.

Additionally if I turn to the right, the squeal goes away. The intensity
and longevity of said squealing increases the further/faster I travel
and 50mph appears to be the sweet spot for most noise.

There is a lip (minor - about 1mm) on the brake disc, but the pads
appear to have at least half their thickness. The pads have been on the
car for 2 and a half years.

a) what could be causing it?

Something's rubbing

b) does the squealing at least suggest some sort of contact, therefore
friction, therefore reduced mpg?

slightly but they get really hot if it's significant.


then

c) could the pads overheat and reduce in effectiveness?

if it's really bad

d) given say 10,000 miles per year, with the pads 2 and a half years
old, is it worth getting the pads changed? should i think about changing
the disks?

Cleaning the calipers & lubricating the sliders would be more beneficial


--
Duncan Wood

On 02/03/2010 19:56, Simon Dean wrote:
My brakes squeal when applied when they're cold, but when they get
hotter, eg especially after a motorway run, the front right squeals
quite a lot until I start braking.

Additionally if I turn to the right, the squeal goes away. The intensity
and longevity of said squealing increases the further/faster I travel
and 50mph appears to be the sweet spot for most noise.

There is a lip (minor - about 1mm) on the brake disc, but the pads
appear to have at least half their thickness. The pads have been on the
car for 2 and a half years.

a) what could be causing it?
b) does the squealing at least suggest some sort of contact, therefore
friction, therefore reduced mpg?
c) could the pads overheat and reduce in effectiveness?
d) given say 10,000 miles per year, with the pads 2 and a half years
old, is it worth getting the pads changed? should i think about changing
the disks?

Could be the metal on the pad coming into contact with the lip on the
disc if its shiny on the lip surface.
As a rule of thumb, we only used to inform customers pads needed
changing if they were at 3mm or less when inspected during a service
because they'd need doing before the next one.
One pad could be overheating if the caliper or piston is stuck.

Without access to the vehicle, it is hard to give a definite.
--
Conor
I'm not prejudiced. I hate everyone equally.

On 02/03/2010 19:56, Simon Dean wrote:
My brakes squeal when applied when they're cold, but when they get
hotter, eg especially after a motorway run, the front right squeals
quite a lot until I start braking.

Additionally if I turn to the right, the squeal goes away. The intensity
and longevity of said squealing increases the further/faster I travel
and 50mph appears to be the sweet spot for most noise.

There is a lip (minor - about 1mm) on the brake disc, but the pads
appear to have at least half their thickness. The pads have been on the
car for 2 and a half years.

a) what could be causing it?
b) does the squealing at least suggest some sort of contact, therefore
friction, therefore reduced mpg?
c) could the pads overheat and reduce in effectiveness?
d) given say 10,000 miles per year, with the pads 2 and a half years
old, is it worth getting the pads changed? should i think about changing
the disks?

Some vehicles need an anti-squeal shim place between the pad and the
caliper. Does yours need these and if so are they fitted?

Copper grease applied behind the pad can cure this problem

Rob Graham

Simon Dean wrote:
My brakes squeal when applied when they're cold, but when they get
hotter, eg especially after a motorway run, the front right squeals
quite a lot until I start braking.

Additionally if I turn to the right, the squeal goes away. The
intensity and longevity of said squealing increases the
further/faster I travel and 50mph appears to be the sweet spot for
most noise.
There is a lip (minor - about 1mm) on the brake disc, but the pads
appear to have at least half their thickness. The pads have been on
the car for 2 and a half years.

a) what could be causing it?
b) does the squealing at least suggest some sort of contact, therefore
friction, therefore reduced mpg?
c) could the pads overheat and reduce in effectiveness?
d) given say 10,000 miles per year, with the pads 2 and a half years
old, is it worth getting the pads changed? should i think about
changing the disks?

you need a mechanic to check out the front brakes, probably all that is
needed is new discs and pads plus correct fitting.

Conor wrote:
On 02/03/2010 19:56, Simon Dean wrote:
My brakes squeal when applied when they're cold, but when they get
hotter, eg especially after a motorway run, the front right squeals
quite a lot until I start braking.

Additionally if I turn to the right, the squeal goes away. The intensity
and longevity of said squealing increases the further/faster I travel
and 50mph appears to be the sweet spot for most noise.

There is a lip (minor - about 1mm) on the brake disc, but the pads
appear to have at least half their thickness. The pads have been on the
car for 2 and a half years.

a) what could be causing it?
b) does the squealing at least suggest some sort of contact, therefore
friction, therefore reduced mpg?
c) could the pads overheat and reduce in effectiveness?
d) given say 10,000 miles per year, with the pads 2 and a half years
old, is it worth getting the pads changed? should i think about changing
the disks?

Could be the metal on the pad coming into contact with the lip on the
disc if its shiny on the lip surface.

The lip doesn't seem to be too shiny. One of the garages I took it to
suggested it was just the lip - but given there's plenty of brake pad
material, Im a bit cautious.

Here's a pic (if you can make it out)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sjdean/4402525564/

Looks like plenty of meat on there, but I don't seem to be able to see
any shims on there.

I must admit though, I really have a problem figuring out how a little
bit of metal is supposed to stop break squeal.

Cya
Simon

Robin Graham wrote:
On 02/03/2010 19:56, Simon Dean wrote:
My brakes squeal when applied when they're cold, but when they get
hotter, eg especially after a motorway run, the front right squeals
quite a lot until I start braking.

Additionally if I turn to the right, the squeal goes away. The intensity
and longevity of said squealing increases the further/faster I travel
and 50mph appears to be the sweet spot for most noise.

There is a lip (minor - about 1mm) on the brake disc, but the pads
appear to have at least half their thickness. The pads have been on the
car for 2 and a half years.

a) what could be causing it?
b) does the squealing at least suggest some sort of contact, therefore
friction, therefore reduced mpg?
c) could the pads overheat and reduce in effectiveness?
d) given say 10,000 miles per year, with the pads 2 and a half years
old, is it worth getting the pads changed? should i think about changing
the disks?

Some vehicles need an anti-squeal shim place between the pad and the
caliper. Does yours need these and if so are they fitted?

I must admit, I hadn't thought of that, and IIRC - I don't think they're
fitted, but I think it does need them.

On Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:21:15 -0000, Simon Dean
wrote:

Conor wrote:
On 02/03/2010 19:56, Simon Dean wrote:
My brakes squeal when applied when they're cold, but when they get
hotter, eg especially after a motorway run, the front right squeals
quite a lot until I start braking.

Additionally if I turn to the right, the squeal goes away. The
intensity
and longevity of said squealing increases the further/faster I travel
and 50mph appears to be the sweet spot for most noise.

There is a lip (minor - about 1mm) on the brake disc, but the pads
appear to have at least half their thickness. The pads have been on the
car for 2 and a half years.

a) what could be causing it?
b) does the squealing at least suggest some sort of contact, therefore
friction, therefore reduced mpg?
c) could the pads overheat and reduce in effectiveness?
d) given say 10,000 miles per year, with the pads 2 and a half years
old, is it worth getting the pads changed? should i think about
changing
the disks?
Could be the metal on the pad coming into contact with the lip on the
disc if its shiny on the lip surface.

The lip doesn't seem to be too shiny. One of the garages I took it to
suggested it was just the lip - but given there's plenty of brake pad
material, Im a bit cautious.

Here's a pic (if you can make it out)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sjdean/4402525564/

Looks like plenty of meat on there, but I don't seem to be able to see
any shims on there.

I must admit though, I really have a problem figuring out how a little
bit of metal is supposed to stop break squeal.

Cya
Simon

It just reduces the stiction so that the pad can move to a point where it
doesn't vibrate, copaslip normally works just as well initially

Mrcheerful said the following on 02/03/2010 22:11:
Simon Dean wrote:
My brakes squeal when applied when they're cold, but when they get
hotter, eg especially after a motorway run, the front right squeals
quite a lot until I start braking.

Additionally if I turn to the right, the squeal goes away. The
intensity and longevity of said squealing increases the
further/faster I travel and 50mph appears to be the sweet spot for
most noise.
There is a lip (minor - about 1mm) on the brake disc, but the pads
appear to have at least half their thickness. The pads have been on
the car for 2 and a half years.

a) what could be causing it?
b) does the squealing at least suggest some sort of contact, therefore
friction, therefore reduced mpg?
c) could the pads overheat and reduce in effectiveness?
d) given say 10,000 miles per year, with the pads 2 and a half years
old, is it worth getting the pads changed? should i think about
changing the disks?

you need a mechanic to check out the front brakes, probably all that is
needed is new discs and pads plus correct fitting.

Easy tiger :-)

Yes he needs a mechanic but disks and pads look OK. There again he
posted his photo after your post ;-)

Answer to the OP. As others said (and paraphrasing) dismantle, clean,
and reassemble using copper grease on all metal surfaces that make
contact (not the face of the pads/disk).

Charles

Charles C wrote:
Mrcheerful said the following on 02/03/2010 22:11:
Simon Dean wrote:
My brakes squeal when applied when they're cold, but when they get
hotter, eg especially after a motorway run, the front right squeals
quite a lot until I start braking.

Additionally if I turn to the right, the squeal goes away. The
intensity and longevity of said squealing increases the
further/faster I travel and 50mph appears to be the sweet spot for
most noise.
There is a lip (minor - about 1mm) on the brake disc, but the pads
appear to have at least half their thickness. The pads have been on
the car for 2 and a half years.

a) what could be causing it?
b) does the squealing at least suggest some sort of contact, therefore
friction, therefore reduced mpg?
c) could the pads overheat and reduce in effectiveness?
d) given say 10,000 miles per year, with the pads 2 and a half years
old, is it worth getting the pads changed? should i think about
changing the disks?

you need a mechanic to check out the front brakes, probably all that
is needed is new discs and pads plus correct fitting.

Easy tiger :-)

Yes he needs a mechanic but disks and pads look OK. There again he
posted his photo after your post ;-)

Answer to the OP. As others said (and paraphrasing) dismantle, clean,
and reassemble using copper grease on all metal surfaces that make
contact (not the face of the pads/disk).

But surely on the surface, that would be guaranteed to reduce squeal?
Important parts must be lubricated surely! :-)