I recently replaced my front brakes with Motorcraft rotors and EBC Yellowstuff pads. The copper colored clips for the pads cleaned up very nice (they went in new last time), and I made to degrease everything liberally before re-assembly. Slide pins got cleaned up, along with the slide pin channels in the caliper bracket. Syl-Glide was used to re-grease. Wheels were torqued properly after everything was done, as were caliper brackets and slide pin bolts.

Yet, even after pad break in, I'm getting persistent brake squeal from what I think is only the left hand brake. Coincidentally, that was the side that I thought I had either a worn down pad and/or seized slide pin that made me do this brake job in the first place.

What could be causing this squeal? Could it be a bad caliper? I don't want to replace a caliper if I don't have to, but, I will because I can't stand the noise any longer... :D

Any thoughts?

Chuck

 

Did you use the insulating paste that comes in the pad kit ?
Did you happen to file the edges of the pads to a 45 degree angle ?

Two things that help but may not remove all of the squeal are those two things.

 

I can't remember if the kit came with insulating paste in it or not. I think there is already a plastic film backing on the pad where the caliper piston contacts the pad. If you're talking about the leading edge of the pad, that is factory cut to some kind of angle.

I did have to file the paint off the edge of the pad tabs that fit into the clips, as for the past 3 times I've used these pads now, they are too tight to fit in there w/o getting the paint all of basically. I file until I can put the pad in there and make it move in and out freely by hand. I've written EBC on this before, I think after the 2nd set I used was like this, never got a response that I can remember.

Chuck

 

I always put copper based anti-seize paste on all caliper/pad contact and sliding surfaces. Not gobs of the stuff just a nice coating. Have never head a problem with squealing pads.

Basically the pads vibrate against the caliper and cause this squeak/squeal.

 

I think the beveling of the pad edges helps with vibrations while braking.

 

That would have been my next step actually, but...

...I bedded in the pads since I'd gone through the initial 1000 mile wear in, and, it turns out, it has completely eliminated my squeal.

Sorry for the false call, and, thank you for the help and suggestions!

Chuck