squee...squee...squee... from rear wheels

[lectraplayer]

On a 1994 Taurus i was just given, both rear wheels have started squeaking. It has been a month since i have changed the brake pads so i know the brakes are fresh. the right wheel squeaks with a high pitch which sounds metallic. this wheel the brakes were run down halfway through the backing. Supprisingly the rotor didn't seem to be harmed though metal shavings from the pads were all over the rotor. The left side seemed fine but it's fine but it's squeaking too, with a lower pitch. i raised both wheels and shook and spun them. no play but some light rolling resistance with a light scrubbing noise. same on both wheels. whe i'm betting brakes, what does this sound lke to you guys?

[shorod]

First, please confirm that the rear brakes are disc brakes rather than drum brakes. Back in '94 I think rear drums were more common than disc, so I want to get that confirmed.

If the pads were wearing more on one side than the other, and you did nothing to remedy the cause, that could be responsible for the squeak. If I'm understanding your comments correctly, one of the pads was worn all the way through the friction material and you had metal on metal, is that correct? If so, it doesn't matter how smooth the rotor surface seemed, it will not be as smooth as it should be if you didn't have the rotor machined or replaced.

Does the squeak change or go away when the brake pedal is pressed? Have you inspected the clearance between the dust shield and the rotor? What kind of brake pads did you install when you changed the brakes - semi-metallic?

-Rod

[lectraplayer]

Originally Posted by shorod

First, please confirm that the rear brakes are disc brakes rather than drum brakes. Back in '94 I think rear drums were more common than disc, so I want to get that confirmed.

Sure supprised the heck out of me When i found it was disk brakes. The racket seems to settle down when i'm on the brakes.

The right side (high pitch) was worn excessively but the left side (low pitch) wasn't. Pads are the standard variety. What could be causing the left side to squeak? think there could be something else to check? I can live with brake noise for now and i just wanted to confirm what i figured.

[shorod]

With the right side wearing more quickly than the left, I would suggest you look in to that in general, not just to remedy the squeak. Make sure the slide pins are clean and not corroded and then lube them up with brake lube.

Since the squeak seems to get better when the brakes are applied, the source is probably a combination of the standard semi-metallic pads along with a rust lip on the inner and outer edges of the rotors. You could try making a few rather aggressive stops in a safe area to see if the squeak goes away after the stops. If you had the rotors replaced or machined, the squeak would probably go away, at least until rust formed again. It's pretty common, and the higher end brake pads seem to do a pretty good job or minimized squeals. The friction material is typically not semi-metallic (often ceramic and stuff) and come with shims on the backs of the pads to reduce vibrations.

-Rod

[failfree]

A little off topic but....,
i put a larger tire on and when i would over load the back of the car the outside of the tire would rub and the fender well. Opps! I guess i will stay with the original tires size.

[lectraplayer]

Originally Posted by failfree

A little off topic but....,
i put a larger tire on and when i would over load the back of the car the outside of the tire would rub and the fender well. Opps! I guess i will stay with the original tires size.

I'm using the original sized meats so i know it's not that.

[lectraplayer]

I found the splash shield was rubbing the rotor. With the splash shield gone, the noise is also gone.

[shorod]

Hmm, sounds like one of the checks I suggested in post #2 above.

Thank you for following up with what you found.

-Rod