Front Brake Sqeak

My front brakes squeal very loudly (disc front drum rear) I have checked the pads and they seem OK. For the first two or three times I use them all is OK then the squeal starts. I also do not seem to be getting the braking that I think I should. Pedal is firm so I don't think air is in the lines. Rear shoes look good also.

Suggestions please.

Thanks

Troy

Troy, I think its the Wide Whites, I've got an Idea....
Remove the tires, go buy new ones, I think you know whats next....

Buy some brake pad Anti-squeal at any auto parts store, this "goo" gets smeared on the "back" metal side of the pads prior to placing them back into the calipers. This stuff acts as an insulator to dampen harmonics.... aka brake squeal

Do the rotors have a smooth, almost glass-like or ceramic feel to them, inspite of the grooves? The pads might not have "seated" when first installed and possibly glazed the rotors.

Maybe?

I'm with TC on this and it will happen sooner or later; it used to happen to my old Karmann Ghia.

TC,
When I looked at the rotors they looked great. These rotors have less than 1500 miles on them and looked great to me. I will re-inspect and see if they feel/look glazed. If so what is the remedy?
Thanks
Troy

You might try chamfering the lead edge of the brake pad. It has worked for me on several Harleys.

Again if the discs seem as TC describes, what is the solution for them. Must I have them resurfaced??

If they aren't burned blue/black then you can scuff them up (just like a flywheel when replacing a clutch disk) with emery paper (sand paper or scotch brite pad). New rotors often have oil or cosmoline like stuff on them --- this needs to be cleaned off when they are installed (mineral spirits) or the pads become contaminated. Suspect this would cause squeaks -- but would cause grabbing/slipping.

You really can't cut the "glaze' with just sandpaper, you can rough it up, but it's kind of a deeper anomoly that will need a brake lathe to do it right. Any machine shop or Midas or such can do a quik "cut" and expose new metal for you.

After that you'll need to follow proceedure to "seat" or "bed" the pads against the rotors.

http://www.kitcarbooks.com/brakepads.html

Once done, you're all set. As an added precaution, you might want to cut an eighth inch groove through the middle of the contact surface of the pad. It relieves heat build up and eliminated noise as well. Most pads for bigger calipers come with this groove (or several grooves in a pattern) as a bigger pad/bigger car/harder braking builds more heat.

A start, anyway . . . Luck