A few months back, I bought Wagner Thermoquiet Brake pads (ceramic) and Shoes. I am EXTREMELY happy with the Ceramic front brakes, BUT the back brakes are pissing me off. At first they too were awesome, now they are squealing like nobody's business! Only when light pressure is applied though (like when coasting to a stop).

I absolutely cannot stand anything ticking, squealing, squeaking, etc... When i hear someone's vehicle with squeals or ticks, I think "DA dont take care of his ****". Well thats the way I feel about my truck. New brakes should not do that crap and especially as much as I paid for them (like $40).

I dont understand it, i cleaned everything extremely well with brake cleaner and all. and it didn't squeal at first, just started a few weeks ago. any suggestions?

PS, i have emailed Wagner regarding the problem and told them I was very dissatisfied

 

If you frequently use your parking brake
AND
drive in reverse and apply the brakes several times,

the self-adjuster star wheels will tighten them up.

Typically, they "bed in" to the drums and need tightened back up after a few miles.


I do this with any drum brake vehicle. Another alternative is to go in reverse, engage the parking brake while your left hand is holding the release lever released. Repeat that 3-4 times and note that the regular brake pedal feels firmer than it was.

Voila. Brakes adjusted and you didn't even get dirty.

 

thanks man, may try that!

 

howd it go?

 

three words: disc brake swap


but good lucky on the fix. i'd say check the adjusters or try to bed them in if you haven't done so already.....

 

X2 on discs.
They say that your supposed to use your Parking brake every once and a while to tighten the self adjusters.

 

I hate drum brakes. My 08 did the same thing from day one. I changed them several times and nothing changed. I was just about to swap to disc brakes when I sold it.

 

i am failing to see how brakes out of adjustment will squeal?

 

I need to try this as well.

I think my rear brakes are shot (or the adjusters, hardware, whatever)......so im just saving up for a disc brake swap.

Scott let us know how the reverse trick turns out.

 

My solution would be to pull the drum, take a file to the edges of the shoes, especially the leading edge, ¼” chamfer.

Take a look at the drum inside edge, does it have a slight radius or chamfer, (more or less does it match the edge of the shoes after filing), did you get the drums turned… (?), if not get the drums turned to spec. The drum needs to have more of a chamfer or radius than the Shoes.

New hardware doesn’t hurt either.

The idea of backing up while applying and re-applying the parking brake is close to chamfering the edges.

Good Luck,

 

did you put anti seize on the backing plates of the brakes?

 

I tried it a few times on the boat ramp yesterday, backing and slamming on brakes. As far as parking brake goes, I always engage parking brake no matter where i am at. Its a habit I picked up when I drove the old 94 ranger (manual trans). But any ways, the backing trick did NOT work. They still squeak.

I dont think there is a backing plate on drum brakes. And the inside of the drums looked new when I cleaned them up, smooth as butter (no ridges or anything). It squeaks when light pressure is applied, so im baffled

 

Yes there is a backing plate on Drum Brakes, that is the part everything attaches to.
If the portion of the Backing Plate that the Shoes rub against when actuating was shiny then there is a possibility that any vibrations will transfer to the Plate.
usually there is a lube that comes with the shoes that you apply on the contact points and it helps with the noise.
If you are going to pull the drums to check things out, don’t forget to check the edges on the shoes and on the inside of the drum when the edge of the shoe would contact.
When I used to work in a small shop squealing brakes were alway edge related, things have changed and a lot of old problems are solved and built in but there is alway a chance.

Did you get the drums turned ?

 

There are 3 flat spots on either side of the shoes. Put some anti sieze on em and you should be fine

 

ill take them apart and grease em up and see if it helps

 

use brake grease not anti seize.

im sure k&y, wheel bearing grease and anti seize will work but use a lubricant that is made for brakes.

 

Don’t forget to check the edges… I know old school but can’t hurt while apart.

 

your rotors or drums are probably glazed over

 

^^^ WE AIN'T TALKIN BOUT NO DONUTS.


If all that stuff doesn't work Scott you should always just go to autozone and get some duralasts. They're cheap and maybe those thermoquites are just junk.