Brake squeak
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 173
From: hebron IL
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Brake squeak
I have a front brake squeaking while driving. It goes away when applying the brakes. I checked the rotor for runout with a dial indicator the best I could on a drilled and slotted rotor. It looked to be within specs.
I cleaned and greased the pin that holds the pads up. The sound decreased in noise level but is still there. And it took driving it a few miles before I could hear it again.
I cleaned and greased the pin that holds the pads up. The sound decreased in noise level but is still there. And it took driving it a few miles before I could hear it again.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
This is a common problem. Auto parts stores have little squeeze packets of 'goo' that you use to apply "stripes" of the stuff on the backside of your pads. Let it dry and insert the pads. The stuff acts as a vibration damper between the piston surface and the pad face. It eliminates that nasty squeal.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 173
From: hebron IL
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 224
From: Pawleys Island, SC
Brakes should not squeal without applying pressure to the pedal. Disk brake quieting products should have no effect on the noise as described. There's only a tiny bit of pressure on the disk from the pad when the brakes aren't being applied (and only if you're still running calipers with lip seals with springs). There's something else going on, wheel bearing maybe.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,230
Likes: 984
From: Wauconda IL
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 173
From: hebron IL
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Brakes should not squeal without applying pressure to the pedal. Disk brake quieting products should have no effect on the noise as described. There's only a tiny bit of pressure on the disk from the pad when the brakes aren't being applied (and only if you're still running calipers with lip seals with springs). There's something else going on, wheel bearing maybe.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Brake pads "should" be quiet doesn't mean that they are. This has always been a [minor] problem with the C3 brakes. Simple fix if you apply damper goo to the back of the pads when changing.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,284
Likes: 1,171
From: Hermosa
I've had no luck with the silicone based "goo" on the back of the the pads on the vette. I think the squeak has a lot to do with the disc surface condition and the type of pads being used (ceramic, semi-metalic, organic) as well as the condition of that pad based on the type.
On mine the disc is OEM and it has a pretty glazed surface. The pads are still from the PO 7 years ago and still have plenty of wear left and perform good enough for me to not be inclined to change them.
What I have done in the past is take the pads off and rub them face down on some heavy grit sand paper on a flat surface. 60 grit or so. Just enough to take the glaze off of the pads themselves. This solves the squeak for a time. Since the car is occasional use I believe this contributes to the glazing and resulting squeaking problem from moisture. They just don't get hot enough often enough to keep the pads in good shape I'm guessing.
Resurfacing the discs along with the pads would probably be better. Don't really want to have to take metal off the discs unless I need to though.
Forgot to add I also just barely round the edges of the pads if they are squared off at a sharp 90* angle to the disc. Enough to sort of intersect the disc at a more acute angle that may be less conducive to causing it to chatter (squeak).
On mine the disc is OEM and it has a pretty glazed surface. The pads are still from the PO 7 years ago and still have plenty of wear left and perform good enough for me to not be inclined to change them.
What I have done in the past is take the pads off and rub them face down on some heavy grit sand paper on a flat surface. 60 grit or so. Just enough to take the glaze off of the pads themselves. This solves the squeak for a time. Since the car is occasional use I believe this contributes to the glazing and resulting squeaking problem from moisture. They just don't get hot enough often enough to keep the pads in good shape I'm guessing.
Resurfacing the discs along with the pads would probably be better. Don't really want to have to take metal off the discs unless I need to though.
Forgot to add I also just barely round the edges of the pads if they are squared off at a sharp 90* angle to the disc. Enough to sort of intersect the disc at a more acute angle that may be less conducive to causing it to chatter (squeak).
Last edited by REELAV8R; Aug 2, 2017 at 12:23 PM.