I have a question about squeaky brakes?

Question

I have a 1997 Volvo 850 & my breaks squeak 96% of the time when I drive. I had a mechanic tell me that I could haul *** in reverse and slam on the brakes a couple times to smooth out my brakes, but I want to know what your take on it was.

**The brakes don't squeak when I am going faster than 40mph and brake.**

Also if there's any ideas or remedies you have I would definetly appreciate it because my car and school buses are the only cars I hear that squeak this bad.

Answer 1

You can back up at a safe speed, and some times applying the brakes will break the "GLAZE" off the pads. IF the squeak is constant this may help for a while. If it is more like Squeak-squeak-squeak...you might have a warped rotter.
Also, most auto parts stores have cleaners, and anti-squeak Grease, and stick on pads that may work. Good Luck!

Answer 2

If you have had the pads checked and they are not worn. And, you get no pulsation in the brake pedal or in the steering wheel when you apply the brakes you may just need to have a non directional finish put on the rotors. I am assuming you wouldn't be asking this question if you haven't already had your brakes inspected and told that they were ok as far as lining thickness and rotor runout is concerned. I can't think of any other reason back yard Joe would tell you to back up and slam on your brakes. Was he scratching his head when he told you that?? In many cases, especially with Volvos for some reason, the brakes are in good shape but they squeak like there's no tomorrow. This happens because the pads and rotors have developed a grooving pattern like on an LP (record album). The grooves on the LP are what make the sound and that is the same thing that makes a brake squeak, nothing more than a vibration causing the pads to vibrate inside the caliper which in turn makes the noise. The solution is to remove the grooved pattern with a non-directional finish. Remove the pads from the caliper, lay down a sheet of medium grit sandpaper on a hard surface and lightly rub the pad over the paper, go back and forth about 5 or 6 times and turn the pad over and look at it, you will see lines in the pad, the light lines are where you sanded and the dark lines are where you haven't touched the pad due to the grooving. These are the lines that are running against the grooves in the rotor. Continue to sand the pads until the lines are gone and they are one uniform finish. Take your mini angle die grinder fitted with a roloc disc and place it against the rotor, begin spinning the rotor by hand while applying the roloc disc to the surface of it and pull the trigger. You should be getting a nice swirl finish on the face of the rotor, do this until you have a nice uniform finish on the rotor. If you cant get to the back face of the rotor due to backing plate interference it may be necessary to remove the rotors from the vehicle. Repeat this on the inner and outer faces of all 4 rotors. Re-assemble the brakes, take the car for a drive and enjoy the quiet braking. If that is to much for you to do on your own take it to Midas, they will sell you a new brake job all the way around for about $499.00 but it will come with a guarantee of some nature. Hope this helps.
I just did this on my motorcycle last week, the rear brake was squeeling so bad I couldn't stand it. The bike only has 1400 miles on it and the brakes are like new. Since I was chaning the tire I went ahead and pulled off the rotor and gave it a finish. I didn't even bother with the pads. I haven't had a peep out of it since then.
My buddy has a mountain bike with hydrualic disc brakes on it. He had a brake squeak, I removed the rotors, gave them the roloc treatment and no more squeak.
A non directional finish is like the golden rule on friction surfaces and too many mechanics don't know that. It is very important and should be done on all brake jobs.

Answer 3

Most vehicles have a sensor that tells you when the brakes are bad. I'm sure if you have come so far as to ask for help then you have checked that the brakes are okay, and the rotors have been turned, and the sensor has been checked so it's not faulty, and the type of brake pad is the best for the vehicle. Some vehicles cannot use the cheap pads.
If the brakes stop squeaking over 40mph it is probably because the rotor has heated up and the pads don't squeak when they're hot. I would double check the back brakes also.

Answer 4

This is coming from a Chevy fan, but when was the last time you had your brakes replaced? I own a '97 Chevy SUV. When the brakes start to squeak, it's always time for a new brake job. Then, I'm usually good for another 30 to 35K before the next brake job.

I HATE squeaky brakes! It's embarassing!!

Answer 5

Two reasons would be good quality ceramic brake shoes or pads will squeel or the mechanic did not apply anti sueak to the pads when he installed them. You can just pull your pads off and either get some brake pad anti sueak or I just use ATV Silicone and it does the same thing. Just apply it to the back of the pad and when it dries it keeps the pad in place when you brake.

Answer 6

the reverse thing was once used for adjusting the breaks not squeaks,,, you may have worn pads or the newer pads now ALL squeak to some degree,, some are earsplitters,, its the new composit material they use

Answer 7

i never heard of that before,i think the mech.must of got his license out of a bubble gum machine.when you slam on the brakes,you got a chance of blowing a wheel cylinder,brake hose,or line.your squeel is probably hard linings or brake dust.

Answer 8

i don't know what mechanic you went to but i would have someone else look at the brakes. it sounds like you need a brake job.

Answer 9

for 35 to 40 bucks you can fix the brakes your self and then you will be able to stop and wont hear the noise.

Answer 10

just drive a couple of miles while slightly depressing the brakes