Rant: Vauxhall brakes squealing like pigs!

[dobbslc]

It's driving me nuts!
Poxy Vauxhall Combo van has had squealing back brakes since new but it's just gone in for a "service"* so I mentioned this to them, it's now had new discs and pads and if anything it's worse than before
It's got to the point where I'm either braking harder or softer than I want just to keep it out of the bloody squealing resonance!
It went in with a complaint of squealing brakes but I bet they didn't put any ceramic grease on anything to try to sort it out. What can I do other than spraying oil on the poxy things?
I'll probably look at it myself but the hand brake is one of those ridiculous electric ones so how do I stop the pads from crushing.my fingers while I sort this out?

* Service*
1 not fixing the brakes.
2 not putting a new wiper arm on in the same position it was in so it doesn't clear the right side of the screen fully now.
3 not fixing the fan blower motor that keeps ramping up and down in speed.
4 Charging £36 to replace a fog light bulb!!!
How the hell do these companies stay in business?
(This is a company lease van not mine luckily)

 

[Morrisman]

There is a thin sticky backed rubber you can buy from auto supply, that you stick on the back of each pad, it cures squealing totally. I've used it on two bikes and my old hot rod, works great. I've got some out in the shed, I can dig out a part number or pic tomorrow if you need it.

 

[dobbslc]

Sounds good! I've never hear of that.

I can dig out a part number or pic tomorrow if you need it.

Yes please!

 

[Memmeddu]

I'm hating my brakes too
Two years ago I've put new discs and pads both Brembo no problems
Now put new Brembo pads and it's making horrible noises

 

[dobbslc]

I've just found this

4x Shims Brake Pad Anti Squeal Vibration Noise Reduction For Most Makes & Models | eBay

4x Shims Shim Brake Pad Anti Squeal Backing Pads 3M Universal fitment These anti-squeal brake pads featuring shims are designed to reduce friction-induced noise during braking. They incorporate technologies that minimize vibrations and noise between the brake pads and callipers, preventing...

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Turbo]

It's probably down to whoever is supplying the brake pads to Vauxhall. Apec pads are renowned for being a noisy pad but they are decent otherwise. I've been fitting Allied Nippon brake pads/discs lately & they are quieter than Apec, grip just as well & a lot cheaper. AN are the OE supplier to some of the Japanese car makers.

 

[Roger440]

If a sticky back pad on the rear of the pad doesnt stop it, grind a taper onto the leading edge of the pad. That should stop it.

 

[m_c]

I've done enough rants lately, but the fan speed noticeably fluctuating is normal on these vans.

 

[dobbslc]

Nah, it's all over the place and never used to do it. It's like going from speed 1 to 4 all the time.

 

[zzr1200]

A thin smear of "Copperslip" on the back of the brake pads and locating surfaces, after cleaning them and the calliper, the old ways are sometimes still the best.

 

[OJCar]

Get @qwakers to drive the van ...

View attachment 386444


Borrowed dads van... didnt go well... and no, theyre not here yet, new eta is 6pm

soon all its problems will be over!

 

[Morrisman]

I've just found this

4x Shims Brake Pad Anti Squeal Vibration Noise Reduction For Most Makes & Models | eBay

4x Shims Shim Brake Pad Anti Squeal Backing Pads 3M Universal fitment These anti-squeal brake pads featuring shims are designed to reduce friction-induced noise during braking. They incorporate technologies that minimize vibrations and noise between the brake pads and callipers, preventing...

www.ebay.co.uk

Yes, that's the exact stuff, works a treat.

 

[dobbslc]

Just ordered

 

[stuvy]

A thin smear of "Copperslip" on the back of the brake pads and locating surfaces, after cleaning them and the calliper, the old ways are sometimes still the best.

That would be my go to

Pads out clean up the slides and copper grease

If it still squeals id do what @Roger440 said

 

[Morrisman]

That would be my go to

Pads out clean up the slides and copper grease

If it still squeals id do what @Roger440 said

I tried all that on the front disc brakes on my old Morris, made no difference. They were even brand new calipers and pads. The sticky stuff was all that stopped the shrieking ear splitting screech.

 

[dobbslc]

I'll probably grease and fit the backing tape but how do I retract the caliper pistons and keep them there so I can work?

 

[Morrisman]

I'll probably grease and fit the backing tape but how do I retract the caliper pistons and keep them there so I can work?

I use a small G clamp to ease them back a bit. There should be enough space in the master cylinder for fluid to be pushed back up, unless someone topped it off while the pads were half worn.....

 

[pawsnizzy]

A thin smear of "Copperslip" on the back of the brake pads and locating surfaces, after cleaning them and the calliper, the old ways are sometimes still the best.

I don't know about an old way, it's always been the only way

 

[zzr1200]

I don't know about an old way, it's always been the only way

There are peeps here who have/would disagree...

 

[PhillipM]

Me for one, it barely works on modern pads which tend to be much harder so the squeal is higher frequency, and to add to that a lot of modern copperslip is barely any solids and mainly grease so it just bleeds oil out as soon as it gets hot (I still have a nice big tub of old, 50% solids belzona I use for critical jobs).
There's also a bit of an issue with copperslip and modern aluminium calipers if you have a vehicle with those as it encourages corrosion especially if they have stainless pins or pad abutments. I've had to burn out fittings on Brembos with acid because of someone putting copperslip behind the stainless shims before.
Plus if it's anywhere near the modern abs systems there's a small chance you can screw up the reading on inductive mag sensors if you get copperslip on them.

Ceratec works far better anyway it's got much more damping effect and it's cheap af. But often the shims are the best solution, a lot of modern OE pads come with rubber coated shims as standard for that reason.