hiya guys and girls
recently me cars been squealing every now and then. It was mostly on breaking but now is also during turning. Not all the time but on and off. I thought it was just the brake pads binding but they seem fine and were changed about a year ago (plenty on em). Any ideas? stiff brake caliper?

xander_trippin said:

hiya guys and girls
recently me cars been squealing every now and then. It was mostly on breaking but now is also during turning. Not all the time but on and off. I thought it was just the brake pads binding but they seem fine and were changed about a year ago (plenty on em). Any ideas? stiff brake caliper?

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quite often a high pitched squek is the fan belt, what engine is it? i personally wouldnt drive it too hard for the time being, if you gt a garage to do it i would ask them to check the condition of the cambelt as if that snaps while your driving is veryyyy expensive

its a 1.6. I had the cambelt done a few months ago so dont think its that. Sounds like its from the wheels to be honest, but i'll check aux belt.

Did you actually take the pads out to check even wear?

Were the pads fitted with brake grease/coppaslip?

Cheers

SPD

Hows your power steering fluid?
Power steering can squeel when low on fluid, or perhaps you have a pipe leak and it is sucking air, perhaps during braking you are turning the sterring wheel slightly maybe coing into a junction or cornering which will use the power steering, now it shows when you are turning wheel, so I would have a quick look at the fluid level and see if thereareany leaks, the other thing it may be is dust especially if youhave drums on rear, mine use to squeel a bit on braking and cornering but it was because I could not get the drums off it, when I eventually did the job they where full of dust. may be of help to you.

Something is in contact around the brakes - check / clean the pads, splash shield, etc, the caliper could be touching something when braking and turning.

I would check everything that everyone above has mentioned. Brakes pads need to be copper greased to prevent brake squeel, you should always safely blow out any brake dust and check brake disc condition. Make sure the brake callipers are working properly and secure. When doing a brake disc/pad change you MUST replace the bolts with new ones or add loctite to the old bolts.

Somebody mentioned fanbelt. Well does the squeel rise when you rev the car? If not then its not the belt.

The next step would be to check and see if one of the front wheel bearings are on there way out. To check, jack the front of the car up, grab the wheel at 9'oclock and 3'oclock positions and rock the wheel and do the same at 12'oclock and 6'clock. If theres no movement the wheel bearing is fine. If there is play then it's time for a new wheel bearing.

cheers for the info guys. took her out and didnt hear a thing today, but i couldnt find any copper grease in sight! where should i apply it? to the back of the pads?

Hi there,
i had a similar problem with my Brava.After going around a few garages and getting advice from all and sundry,i took the front wheels off and found that the metal cover at the back of the disc was too close to it.I used a screwdriver to move it away from the disc and the noise disappeard - just like that.Give it a try,you never know.Let me know how you get on.
John(lcorp124)

Hi, I would say it was definately due to the lack of Copper Grease on the back of the pads. I have had this before. Spread the grease around the back of the pads, but also on the caliper holder that is bolted to the hub section where the pads must slide. Take care not to get any on the disc, if you do make sure you clean it off with an appropriate brake and disc cleaner. Also make sure the caliper slides easily, all this might actually make your brakes feel a little sharper. The reason it squeals sometimes and not others will be most like likely due atmospheric conditions, damp, heat etc.

Ended up being a seized caliper. now i got spongy brakes, bled it 3 times.