Newbie with unusual brake squeal, any advice please
 

Hi everyone just a quickie from a newbie please. I have a Volvo 850 1994 GLE wagon that has developed a high pitched squeal on braking. I have taken it to a brake specialist who has machined the rotors(disks) and replaced the pads, but still the squeal is there. The specialist is baffled and has no more ideas. Im 350 dollars lighter:( and wondering if anyone on the forum could shed some light.Any help would be greatly appreciated. Cheers .

RE: Newbie with unusual brake squeal, any advice please
 

Welcome to the board.
I'm not as good as these other guys, but lets get some preliminary information down.
1) Is the squealing all the time (just rolling), or only when the brakes are applied?
2) If when the brakes are applied, is it always, most of the time, some of the time, or only a couple times a trip?
3) Does it go away if you push the brakes harder/come to a harder stop, or does it go even go away if you really stomp on it?
4) What parts were used for replacement? Volvo OEM? No? What was used?
5) Reputable shop? Ever been there before?

We'll get you squared away.

RE: Newbie with unusual brake squeal, any advice please
 

Hello mate,

>I have taken it to a brake specialist who has machined the rotors(disks) and replaced the pads, but still >the squeal is there. The specialist is baffled and has no more ideas.

I would forget the specialist, the specialist sounds more like a potty specialist[8D].

>Im 350 dollars lighter:( and wondering if anyone on the forum could shed some light.

Aren't we all lighter:(.

Personal suggestions:

1. Volvo rotors are not recommended to be resurfaced/machined.

2. For rotors & pads, pay extra to go for the OEMs. They're worth the money. There are a few different OEM mfgs, so you have some selections to choose from.

3. For fronts, clean everything with brake cleaner spray (NEVER inhale that stuff, they contain toluene[8D]). If necessary, sand off rusts with a sandpaper & oil. Apply CV-joint grease or any molybdenum-based grease, or silicone-based brake grease onto EVERY metal-to-metal contact surfaces, EXCEPT the friction surfaces.

4. For rears, do the same as fronts, plus: replace the retainer spring kits, install half-size shims, apply the same grease mentioned above.

5. Generally, it is the rear brakes that make squealing noise.

I'll let others jump in. Some people may argue with the application ofgrease (only God knows why), but in my case, it was the application of CV-joint grease on the rear brakes that eliminated the squeal permanently.


JPN

P.S: Here's a vendor many of us use, but if you don't live in the States or Canada, shipping may be outrageous and may not justify.

http://www.fcpgroton.com/volvo.htm#850

RE: Newbie with unusual brake squeal, any advice please
 

OK I would not do anything these guys reccomend because you spent $350 already. No way do you fix it yourself after spending that kind of money. These are just my opionions of course. I would tell the "BRAKE SPECIALIST" that you are not satisfied with his work and he needs to make good. JPN is absouletly right in what he said about turning the rotors and I have had no luck whatsoever with anything other than OEM pads.

I would tell him I want either OEM or Brembo rotors and only OEM pads. He will probably charge you a little more, but the labor should be free and it this work was just done he will only make you pay the difference in the price of pads. If he took very little off the rotors, you may be ok keeping the existing rotors, but in general the Volvo rotors are not supposed to be turned. If they are still within specs I would first try just the OEM pads and see what happens. You are looking at about $200 in parts alone to replace all four rotors.

RE: Newbie with unusual brake squeal, any advice please
 

Agreed to Jim.


JPN