Extreme Brake Squealing

[Bcav]

My brakes are screaming like a mother, wtf can i do to stop this? its getting VERY old. i thought for sure i had left squeeky breaks behind when i started buying new cars, guess i was wrong

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by Bcav

My brakes are screaming like a mother, wtf can i do to stop this? its getting VERY old. i thought for sure i had left squeeky breaks behind when i started buying new cars, guess i was wrong

Mileage? My car started squealing like a mofo at about 26K on the odo.

But are you sure that it isnt brake dust?

[Bcav]

im at 16k miles.. i guess it could be break dust.. how would i remove it from the breaks and how can i keep them clean though?

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by Bcav

im at 16k miles.. i guess it could be break dust.. how would i remove it from the breaks and how can i keep them clean though?

More likely some road grit, sand, or small stones. Your dealer should be able to clean it up.

Tom

[Bcav]

well with all the road salting / sanding, and paving done prior to that around here lately that could be the case, thanks

[DBFIU]

Mine squeal too, car has 7000 miles and just rolled off the dealer floor as a CPO lease.

They only squeal under hard braking, where exactly does the brake dust get that causes the squeal? In between the pad and rotor? How does one clean this?

[HawkeyeNS]

I have 5000 miles on mine and they started squealing. Took it to the dealer and they advised me to "drive it like you stole it". I did the brake bed-in or burnish procedure and there fine now.

Basically speed up to 60 mph, brake hard to 5 mph, just not hard enough to invoke antilock, repeat 7 to 10 times and then take a long drive to cool down the rotors.

Be sure not to come to a full stop when the rotors are hot or the pads will imprint on the hot rotors. Also do this on a dry day, you do not want the hot rotors to get wet, otherwise, they will warp and you will feel brake pulsation.

[Bcav]

lol is this true?

[Algol]

Yep typically pads will get crap on them need to be re-bedded. The procedure works.

[mleskovar]

Originally Posted by HawkeyeNS

... I did the brake bed-in or burnish procedure and there fine now.

Basically speed up to 60 mph, brake hard to 5 mph, just not hard enough to invoke antilock, repeat 7 to 10 times and then take a long drive to cool down the rotors.

Be sure not to come to a full stop when the rotors are hot or the pads will imprint on the hot rotors. Also do this on a dry day, you do not want the hot rotors to get wet, otherwise, they will warp and you will feel brake pulsation.

Most of this is correct except the time to bed in brake pads/rotors is when they are new. After-the-fact bedding in isn't as effective and depending on the imprinting it may not work at all. Water on rotors warping them is an urban myth. Think about it, almost all cars on the road would have brake shimmy if this were true. Using the parking brake at full stop will keep the pads from imprinting on the rotors when breaking in.

[POEHAM]

couldn't stand the squeaking either....brought it back to the dealer and they replaced all the pads and brake sensors for me. Now all is good again.....for now.

[Misterted]

My brakes never squeaked unitl I hit around 19K on the odometer. Now they squak under any braking.
I've never had any brake service yet so I hold the opinion that my pads need to be replaced. Otherwise all those reasons given earlier in this post would have happened already.

[JME]

If your brakes are squeaking really bad, take them in to the dealer. Even though the car's computer said I had another 30k on the brakes, reality was I needed new brakes. I'm sure I am not the only one out there.

Take them in before 50k, that is for sure. Those things are expensive.

[soltz14]

had 10k miles on mine when they started squealing pretty bad... there is a TSB on this.. take it to the dealer and have them replace the pads (and sometimes rotors)....sorry i cant quote the TSB exactly, but this is what my SA told me

[uhn2000]

Still squealing after 7000kms and I have no idea what to do. I am going to take it a parking lot and drive it like I stole it. Driving me nuts..

[Ash83]

The Dealer should clean them for you..

[jlee]

my brakes have been squealing since 2000 miles. at 4000 miles i put on performance rotors which you would have thought would have cleaned whatever it is off of the pads..

nada..5500 miles and still squealing

jeff

[michaelm]

Dealer will replace pads if you can recreate the problem for them. I used to own a 335i and the brakes would squeal during acceleration (yes, acceleration) and they replaced all the pads twice within 35k mi. Pads (and rotors, I believe) are covered under their 4yr/50k warranty and their extended maintenance warranty.

[PA135i]

I have 24,000 on my 2008 135i and they started squealing about 3 weeks ago. I'm calling the dealer Monday. I am sure I need new brakes. They should be free under maintenance. While it is in there they can check out the back fires I experience when the engine is cold.

[pjdvd]

'09 135i w/7500mi. Brakes squealing for last 500 miles. Light pressure only. Like when you're coming up to a stop sign. Press much harder and it goes away but that's too harsh for me.

Will talk to dealer about it when I get the oil change done this summer.

Wear debris on the pads and rotors would likely be expelled during highway driving and braking. Someone with an air compressor could try blowing in between the pads and rotor and see if that stops it.

[BrokenVert]

Just curious. Have you guys checked for brake dust buildup? If you guys are pressing the pedal lightly and taking a while to stop the brake dust doesnt get evacuated, causing squealing.

[escobar929]

bedding the pad will work to an extend, just make sure there is plenty of pad left before trying to bed it

i would take it to the dealer first if you are under warranty though