99 OBW Brake squeal

[rd]

Hi,
I've recently replaced all the pads on my 99 OBW. I made sure to
apply plenty of anti-squeal grease to the non-disk surfaces. I have
also made sure the pads have plenty of float when in position in the
calipers, so they don't stick anywhere.
The problem I have is that the anti-squeal stuff works for a few
hundred miles, but then the brakes squeal again while driving (no
brakes applied). The noise will go away for a short while if I tap the
brake pedal. It's not there all the time, either. It comes and goes as
I drive. It seems to be coming more from the RR than anywhere else.
I've also tried the adhesive stuff, but that's even worse.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Bill Pelka]

Were theses new pads OEM? The Mech at the Subaru Dealership said the OEM
pads are the best at being quiet. He knew that I was going to buy on the web
and do it myself, so he had nothing to gain, by lying to me...

Bill

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Hi,
I've recently replaced all the pads on my 99 OBW. I made sure to
apply plenty of anti-squeal grease to the non-disk surfaces. I have
also made sure the pads have plenty of float when in position in the
calipers, so they don't stick anywhere.
The problem I have is that the anti-squeal stuff works for a few
hundred miles, but then the brakes squeal again while driving (no
brakes applied). The noise will go away for a short while if I tap the
brake pedal. It's not there all the time, either. It comes and goes as
I drive. It seems to be coming more from the RR than anywhere else.
I've also tried the adhesive stuff, but that's even worse.
Any help would be appreciated.

You could have a pebbel stuck behind the back plate or maybe the
caliper slides are rusty/need lube.

Carl

 

[rd]

I used NAPA pads. I don't see how the brand of pad could make any
difference since my problem occurs without the brakes being applied.
It's sounds like the wear sensor is dragging, but I don't see any
signs of uneven wear or scratching of the disk. The wear sensor is
definitely below the level of the pad, so I doubt that can be the
cause.
Again, the noise occurs when there is no pressure on the pads, while
moving. When I depress the brake pedal, even slightly, the noise stops
for a while, then comes back.

 

[Michael Pardee]

I used NAPA pads. I don't see how the brand of pad could make any
difference since my problem occurs without the brakes being applied.
It's sounds like the wear sensor is dragging, but I don't see any
signs of uneven wear or scratching of the disk. The wear sensor is
definitely below the level of the pad, so I doubt that can be the
cause.
Again, the noise occurs when there is no pressure on the pads, while
moving. When I depress the brake pedal, even slightly, the noise stops
for a while, then comes back.

The pads are skimming the surface of the disk - normal for disk brakes. The
squeal is also more or less normal, but undesirable (duh!). That it
disappears when you touch the brakes lightly is a strong indication that the
brake pads are indeed the problem.

I agree that the pad material is the prime suspect. That said, you have
entered the Twilight Zone known as brake squeal. A lot of factors figure
into whether your disk brakes squeal or not, and getting it to stop is often
an adventure. Short of replacing the pads with OEM, I have had most success
with roughing up the pad surface. A light treatment with sandpaper is good,
but the best thing I've found is beveling the edges of the friction material
with a file. Obviously that is a temporary fix and the squeal will come back
as the material wears, but a few months of blessed quiet is worth it to me
;-)

 

[Jim Stewart]

I used NAPA pads. I don't see how the brand of pad could make any
difference since my problem occurs without the brakes being applied.
It's sounds like the wear sensor is dragging, but I don't see any
signs of uneven wear or scratching of the disk. The wear sensor is
definitely below the level of the pad, so I doubt that can be the

That's your problem.

I tried a set of NAPA pads in the rear
and they squeaked. I replaced them with
genuine Subaru pads a couple of weeks ago
and the problem is gone.

As far as I can tell, the NAPA pads are
too hard. They seriously glazed the rotor,
requiring a lot of sandpaper to break the
glaze.

Stick with genuine Subaru pads.

 

[rd]

Hi,
Thanks for this info. I have never had a problem with Napa pads in
the past, but I guess this cars rotors are different.
I will try the suggestion of sanding down the edges of the pads and
the rotor to see if that makes a difference.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Hi,
Thanks for this info. I have never had a problem with Napa pads in
the past, but I guess this cars rotors are different.
I will try the suggestion of sanding down the edges of the pads and
the rotor to see if that makes a difference.

I have no experience with NAPA pads, but at www.stoptech.com there are
some technical white papers worth reading about pad 'bedding in' and
rotor 'warpage'.

just fyi


Carl