Screatching Brakes

[Sinatra]

Whenever I'm driving I hear this horrible high pitch screatch come from my brakes. I only hear it on the front brakes. Could this mean need to invest in some new brakes, or is there something up in there like sand or something.

[eag182]

99% it needs new pads. Do you know how to inspect the pads?

[Sinatra]

no i don't

[eag182]

All you have to do is take off the bottom bolt and swing up the caliper. I can help with a video if you need.

[Justy311]

I had a car go in and get new brakes because of the squealing, a few weeks later they started doing it again...I honestly doubt the brakes are that bad, that quick...what could be wrong?

[natedawg9640]

is it a squeal like a high pitched screech whole not applying the brakes... a high pitched screech while applying the brakes... or a grinding while applying the brakes... grinding = need new pads... other two scenarios could be a couple things... one being there is a build up of rust and dust... take the rotors off and tap the edges with a hammer to break it free... not too hard to bend the rotor... then pout it back together... also there are small thin metal clips in the part that holds the pads... sometimes they rub and vibrate... sometimes just taking the pads off and dismateling things... cleaning them off and putting them back together works great... just dont use stuff like WD-40 on pad faces or rotor faces... that = no brakes when you may need them untill it burns off...

[eag182]

Grinding does not always mean you need new pads. If your pads are new obviously don't replace them. Try anti-squeal on the back of the pads and grease the caliper slide bolts.

[alero_ecotec]

Well, i had my brakes replaced not too long ago. And they still squeal like a mother. But I just attribute that to GM and how their disc brakes suck very badly. Oh well.

[Alero2k4]

Originally posted by alero_ecotec@Jun 8 2006, 11:57 PM
Well, i had my brakes replaced not too long ago. And they still squeal like a mother. But I just attribute that to GM and how their disc brakes suck very badly. Oh well.
Quoted post

Attribut that to the replacement parts used. If you use special pads then you can eliminate squeal, also lubing with brake grease in all the contact parts will help tons too.

[alero16]

I recently had my dad help me check my brake pads because every once and awhile my brakes would make a high pitch noise. It seemed that the noise came from the front , but after taking the tire off and caliper there was no wear on them. so then he didn't believe me about the noise, but I took the back tire and caliper off and discovered that their was a little piece of metal on the pad that was rubbing the roter. I'm sure they were the stock pads so maybe you might be having the same problem as I did.

[BlackJack]

alot of brake pads have what is called "wear indicators" on them. It is a small metal tab that comes down the side of the pad and makes that squealing noise when the pads wear down to a certain point because it will then come into contact with the rotor making that screaching noise. If that is the case, then it means it's time to change the pads.

If your wear indicators are in fact the problem, you will hear the noise more than likely when you do not have the brakes applied and are at relatively low speed, and often it will go away when you are applying them, then come back again when you let off.

Check that out first, it may save you some headache in trying to diagnose.

[ImSoBored]

just replaced mine on my car(not an alero) Horrid quealing while braking, while driving, all the time. Pads were gone prematurely from a bad caliper, and fkd up the rotors because of the quealing.