I'm changing my pads & rotors and have heard that you should lubricate the back of the pads to prevent screaching.

I spent the extra & purchased official Volvo Pads and heard you don't need to lubricate these pads.

Anyone know if this is true?

 

I've never heard of lubricating a brake pad. I would think you wouldn't want any type of lubrication on a pad as it will decrease the ability of the pad to do its job.

 

Sorry, I meant the back of the pad (not the part that touches the rotor). I've heard of using copper paste, brake lubricant, etc.

 

You can by little packets of silicone brake parts grease at the checkout counter of most auto parts places. Lube the back of the brake pads where they contact the caliper. Take the rubber off of the sliding caliper pins, wipe off the old grease and lube them. You can lube the piston as well. The packets of grease are only $1-2 and it will only take one for both sides.

 

I use a product sold by CRC called Disc Brake Quiet. It can be obtained from NAPA. Spray the back of the pads and it will dry by the time you have the old pads off. Make sure you use some silicone grease where the pads make contact with the caliper.

r.

 

The OEM Volvo pads have a shim on the back that's made of a soft metal like aluminum. This prevents the steel-on-steel squeal. When I bought cheap pads from the local parts store they did not have the shim and squealed. I had to use the anti-squeal stuff on the back of the new pads but it only helped for a little while. The only permanent fix was to use either Volvo pads or high quality after market pads that have the shims. When I changed my front rotors to Brembo and used the carbon metallic pads I have had no squeal as the new pads have the shim.

 

I ended up putting a some caliper grease on the caliper piston end where it touches the pad only as it looked a little rusty. Other than that I left them as the genuine volvo pads seem to have a material on them already.

Changed brakes & rotors on weekend, seem OK so far. We'll see.