Can somebody please help me. I have a '98 Marea Weekend 2.0 and a couple of weeks ago it developed a loud squeak. I cant pin it down exactly but it sounds like it's coming from one of the wheels. It stops when the brake pedal is applied even slightly. Took it to a local Autospeed and they said front pads were worn and discs scored and renewing them would solve the squeak. So I had these items replaced and after collecting the car was told no more squeak but 2 minutes up the road it started again. Went back to Autospeed and they re-checked front brakes and told me they checked back brakes and various other areas but they cannot find the problem! If anyone has had same problem or knows of possible remedy please share it.

a front caliper is slighty sticking. remove the piston, clean it and also clean inside the caliper where the piston sits, then apply a thin layer of copper grease to the piston and refit it (taking care not ot damage the rubber dust shield). also make sure you clean and grease all the moving or contact points on the caliper (there are 2 i can think of in this case). now refit it all without the pads to check that you can move the caliper in and out freely. if it moves freely you can refit the pads and then bleed it. do all this on both sides at the front.

if you still have the problem then the next most likely culprit is the flexi hose attached to the caliper, then can restrict fluid flow (often only in one direction) causing a caliper to stick.

Thanks for that. My local Autospeed said they took all the front brakes apart and checked it all but couldn't find anything but I knew it had to be something in the brake system somewhere but I really am useless at trying to do my own repairs. I guess I'll have to take it to a proper garage rather than a brake specialist like Autospeed.

I'm 99% sure Jug is right, it's a sticky piston due to dirt or corrosion and it's shocking that they could not diagnose and fix it.
It is possible to do this without completly removing the piston. you can take the caliper off the wheel clamp one pad and pump the other one out with the pedal clean the piston and smear with a tiny amount of copperslip then wind it back in with a G cramp. Then do the same with 'tother and of course repeat for the other wheel. Having said that there is alot to be said for changing the brake fluid as stuff thats been in there for years gets degraded and contaminated. Brake fluid absorbs water which boils at alower temp resulting in surprise no brakes when you really work them. Again Jugs advice to get a proper garage to look at it this time is good, the contents of these 2 posts should let you choose one to do whats needed. I put stainless steel pistons in my MG eventually coz I had to do this once too often