Mysterious Squeak.....Please help

[White98SVT]

Well let me see if I can explain this. This noise is not constant and does not make it every single day.

Usually it begins when I'm starting from a dead stop or almost. It's a lower pitched squeak coming from the back right wheel area. It's kind of like "wooah....wooah....wooah....wooah" kind of sound. Like it is being caused by a rotating part. However, once I'm up to about 15-20 mph, the sounds stops. When I take off somewhat harder or quicker, it makes it for a shorter time or doesn't make it at all. Sometimes it is noticeable at higher speeds but it is in no way constant and it is much softer, almost unnoticeable.

This sound when listened to outside of the car is pretty loud and kind of embarassing. Anyone have a clue what this could be?

What's really odd, is that my buddy's 95 GT is starting to do this also but his is somewhat higher pitched than mind, but obviously still the same problem.

My Mods:
Suspension:
Steeda springs
Steeda Adj. Rear Swaybar
Steeda UCA's
Steeda LCA's
Steeda Subframe Connectors
Steeda Offset rack bushings
Steeda c/c Plates
Steeda strut tower brace
Tokico Shocks/Struts

Also the brake pads have been replaced with Acrylic pads.

Any ideas, I'm lost on this one. Thanks all.

[Spiffy668]

I have that same kind of squeak but it seems to be more evident when my wheel is turned. The only thing I can think of is maybe that the rotor might be slightly warped and hitting the "squeal indicator" on the brake pads. This also happened on my 95 cobra and it turned out that the brake dust shield behind the front rotor was turned in just enough to touch the edge of the rotor (the area at the top next to the vented section).

That's the only thing I can think of from my experience, but it does disappear when I get up to higher speeds.

[White98SVT]

Originally posted by Spiffy668
I have that same kind of squeak but it seems to be more evident when my wheel is turned. The only thing I can think of is maybe that the rotor might be slightly warped and hitting the "squeal indicator" on the brake pads. This also happened on my 95 cobra and it turned out that the brake dust shield behind the front rotor was turned in just enough to touch the edge of the rotor (the area at the top next to the vented section).

That's the only thing I can think of from my experience, but it does disappear when I get up to higher speeds.

Thanks a lot for the help. That does make sense. The noise from what I remember started after I got my brake job done. When the performance shop did that they did take off the rotors to slot them.

Is there any fix suggested for this or do I just have to live with it?

[Spiffy668]

If you are talking about the dust shields, yes. I just bent the metal back to keep it off the rotor. It's fairly flimsy and should be bent easily. You could take it off all together if you wanted to. I don't know how much you drive you car but I don't think you would have any bad effects from it. :doubt: I've thought about replacing mine with a nice brake rotor cooler from mirage motorsports. :thumbsup:

If its the squealer on the pads, you could simply remove the caliper and just clip the metal piece off. I got in the habit of doing this on previous cars but when I do my front brakes with new rotors and shorter life pads, :D, I'll probably leave it on, just trim it a bit. Hope this helps, but its just an idea for ya. :bounce: :bounce:

[White98SVT]

Thanks for the help and suggestions, I'll give it a shot this weekend and see if it fixes the problem. Hopefully it will:bounce:

[Mystic_Cobra]

One other thing that it may be: The calipers aren't sliding back all the way after you brake. Does your noise go away when you step on the brake? Mine did. If so, Pull out the caliper guide pins and lube them with some grease (something thicker than WD40). I had a similar noise that was occasional and only apparent at low speeds like when starting from a stop or when coming to a stop. I sprayed them with WD40 several weeks ago and got the pins moving better but I think the noise is coming back. I've been driving in snow and rain for the last month. When I put new pads on the rear in a few weeks, I'll lube them better.

[White98SVT]

Off the top of my head I can't remember if it does stop when I hit the brakes or not. However, it does seem to do it much less when it's raining out......could that be that the water from the rain is somehow lubricating the caliper guide pins?

I'll do that too, it's worth anything so that I can get rid of this.

[Spiffy668]

Any abnormal pad wear or vibrations when you brake? Or does it pull to any side when you apply the brake with medium/hard pressure? I would think if the caliper is sticking you would have abnormal wear or a pulling to a side (I guess depending on if its a front or rear caliper). Anything like that going on that you know of?

[Mystic_Cobra]

I don't see why not. Could just be the wet roads are noiser than dry ones.

[White98SVT]

Originally posted by Spiffy668
Any abnormal pad wear or vibrations when you brake? Or does it pull to any side when you apply the brake with medium/hard pressure? I would think if the caliper is sticking you would have abnormal wear or a pulling to a side (I guess depending on if its a front or rear caliper). Anything like that going on that you know of?

No not at all really. I have isolated the noise to the rear passenger side wheel area. But no abnormal braking issues are going on.