Squeeking brakes

In message , Eos writes

Does it also squeak when you apply the handbrake?

I had such a problem but only with front breakes, the same year and engine. Mechanic checked it out, oil it a bit and after a couple days it stopped.

In message , BRibic writes

Don't tell me.... it stopped when you ran into a wall because the brakes failed?

You don't use oil anywhere near brakes.

I have a very honest mechanic look after my Daughters car. He said the breaks squeal because of the type of metallic pads Ford uses. He said forget it till you need brakes then I will install ones that don't squeal....I live in Canada. Geoff.

No, only the 'main' brake, and it seems okay after the first mile or two, but those first couple of miles each day are also the noisiest. The noise seems to be coming from the front 'wheels' rather than the back. Tricia.

Don't worry, I won't be oiling the brakes! Tricia.

"Paul Giverin" wrote

I suspect he meant lubricate the calliper sliding surfaces in the hub (not sure if you use the same terminology, but it's simply the place that allows calliper mechanisms to move in and out against the rotor). This is standard and necessary brake maintenance, otherwise you run the risk that one or both pads may not freely press against the rotor, which, incidentally, can cause squeal. If done properly, you get no lubricant on the actual braking surfaces.

In message , Dave Gower writes

I would dispute that lubricating the sliding pins is standard maintenance. The pins are not lubricated from new, the reason being is that grease attracts dirt which causes wear. I always clean the pins and refit them dry although I appreciate that some people prefer to use a high temp grease on them.

In any case, we are talking about grease and not oil.

I`m not suggesting, thats the way mechanics work in Croatia..:-).

In message , BRibic writes

You obviously don't work for the Croatian tourist board ;)

"Paul Giverin" wrote

That may be the case in your climate, but in places with winter conditions and salt on the roads the sliding surfaces can rust up without lubrication. We use special brake lubricants, which is also used on alloy wheels where they contact the hubs, and on wheel nut threads. These lubricants stay slippery enough that any dirt is cleared away with normal movement.

Cheers

In message , Dave Gower writes

Well we do use a smearing of copper grease on the contact face of alloys and on wheel nut threads but the sliding pins are chrome plated and don't tend to rust.

----- Original Message ----- From: "Eos" Newsgroups: alt.autos.ford.focus Sent: Monday, November 08, 2004 2:37 PM Subject: Squeeking brakes

Build up of brake dust and grime on the discs most likely. Mine suffers from the same issue now and again. The recommended way of clearing it is to take the car out for a bit of hard braking. Seriously...!

G.

"Paul Giverin" wrote

Oh I see what our communication problem is now...it's not those guide pins I'm talking about (they're usually covered by a rubber boot) but rather the surfaces of the hub on which the calliper bodies move back and forth. They are not chromed (hubs never are in my experience) and can certainly rust. Exactly that happened on my Chrysler van last winter. I seldom drive it in winter, and by last spring the brakes had seized up. I had to take them apart, wire-brush the rust off and lubricate, so it's all fresh in my mind. I got a can of spray lubricant from the Chrysler dealer which works for all these purposes, as well as door locks, door hinges etc. I use it on my Focus too. Good stuff.

Cheers.

Ha ha ........nope.

In message , Dave Gower writes

Yep, that's where the mix up is.