Possible brake issue on "90 Vanagon

Had a complete front brake overhaul done last July of '06. Pads, calipers, rotors, grease seals... all replaced on both sides.

For the last month or more I have had a rather high pitched warbling, squealing sound coming from somewhere most noticeable during highway driving where the speeds are 50mph or so. Sometimes there almost continuous and sometimes not that bad. Usually takes 15 minutes of driving to hear it.

Seems to be the front wheels as opposed to the rear. Pressing on the brake pedal about 1/4 of the ways down and it goes away until I release it. This always works to stop it no matter how loud it gets.

At first I thought bearings. Garage (Goodyear) checked and said they were fine. Someone told me check the brake pads. That there is some kind of signal device that rubs the rotor if they are word out.

Took it back and they said pads "had plenty of life left". They said they adjusted the rear brakes and it was now OK. $50 for that. They took it for a ride and "heard nothing".

Sound was there as soon as I drove it the next day. Someone else told me it sounds like glazing of the pads. If they were set too tight on the install they will overheat whild driving and a glaze will result and this squeal is the proof. Confirmed by pressing on the pedal to increase pad to rotor pressure.

Any thoughts?

Reply to
scooterspal
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Could be that the pads are not releasing fully. I have had to file the edges of after-market pads on more than one occasion to make sure that they do not bind. Also, if you did not use anti-squeal, you should have... but not too much.

Then, does the outer pad have a wear-sensor? That is often a tiny tongue of metal that touches the rotor as the pads wear. If the pad is binding some and wearing unevenly, the wear-sensor could contact the rotor - giving that squeal - but the three other pads look "fine".

Disc Brakes cannot be "adjusted" in any meaningful way. They self- adjust, the calipers can be released when new pads are installed, but the first time one hits th brakes, they adjust right back to where they (theoretically) need to be. I suspect that the garage simply released the calipers and laid the pads back in "loose", so that their test-drive would not pick up the problem.

Long way of saying that (at least) one of the pads is hanging up as the most likely scenario, or that you need anti-squeal on all four pads possibly as well.

Peter Wieck Wyncote, PA

Reply to
pfjw

I would not turn the rotors. You probably do not have an option on brake pads. You get what they sell. I have had soft OEM pads on my truck and long lasting pads on my truck. I do not know that I noticed any difference in stopping ability. I only carry a little over a ton in my old Toyota when fully loaded. No real difference other than there was 2/3 more than my empty weight in the back which of course required more time to slow down. Basic physics and all.

Reply to
Jim Behning

Thank you for the detailed reply. Goodyear (corporate office) has agreed to have the local dealer that did the original work install new pads under the warranty. How nice of them!

Which pads are best for the Vanagon? I have heard there are two types... hard and soft. Soft wears out faster but may cause less squeal... but may not stop the vehicle as quickly/safely... especially if loaded up going down a hill.

Also, can you tell me if Goodyear will (or should) turn my rotors if they are going to install new pads? Original job was July of last year and the rotors were replaced then. Gone 8100 miles on them since.

Thanks for the help on this.

Reply to
scooterspal

My advice would be to order your own set of OEM pads and have them install those instead. On my customer vehicles I always use OEM or genuine pads after one too many frustrating situations with squeaky aftermarket variants.

Reply to
Madesio

That is what they should do. And ask them to make sure that the pads fit freely and do not hang up. They should also use the anti-squeal and/or the correct shim depending on the type and maker of brakes on your vehicle.

There is little to choose between them on braking power. The difference is in which part wears out first, the pads or the rotors. Many so-called "Lifetime" pads are very hard and made with compounds that are nearly as hard as the rotor steel itself. So the rotors wear nearly as much as the pads. This is great for the pad manufacturers, they do not have to replace them, but not for you... you need to replace (much more expensive) rotors far more often. Go for the softer pads, and keep a close eye on them. On our Vanagon Camper, we got maybe 18,000 miles on a set of pads... although part of that is my personal paranoia inasmuch as I replace pads at 50% out-of-hand.

One should never "Turn" rotors on any VW in my opinion. At best they should be "trued" on first installation, and then replaced about every third set of pads (assuming soft pads). Nor should Goodyear turn these rotors if they were properly trued at first install. Anywhere from

60,000 to 100,000 miles is about right for a set of rotors depending on the type of driving you do.

Peter Wieck Wyncote, PA

Reply to
pfjw

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