new brake job

[zflea]

I had a brake job a week ago. Pads rotors, and front calipers. I was told squeal is normal. For month or so break in. I am not sure about this. The pads also smelled for a week now that seems better. However the squeal sound is loud at slow spped up to about 40mph. If I brake noise stops. Any input? Is it safe (kids in car) Brake feel is normal maybe little softer than before. Stops well.
Thanks,
Mike

[cbeers]

Mike,

I am not too sure about that. I did my whole system recently, rotors, rebuilt calipers, pads, lines, fluid and I don't have any squealing issues when driving. Now, I did get a more aggressive pad in there, so it does squeak when rolling to a stop sign, but that was expected. I don't like the idea of yours squeaking while driving without brakes. Was it a good shop for Porsches? Maybe check your front wheel bearings? VERY easy to check those.


-Chris

[jmohn]

Did they (I assume you had the brakes done by a shop) tell you how to "break-in" the pads or do it for you?

Some squeal is "normal", it may go away, it may not; depends (mostly) on the compostion of the pads.

"Green" pads will smell until completely broken in (after that they only smell if used aggressively .

They should not feel "softer" (although, until broken in they may/will fade under heavy braking and this may feel "soft"). If they continue to feel "soft" have the system bled (actually, unless it was done as part of the "brake job" have the system "flushed" and bled).

They're probably "safe" enough but, also, you're probably not getting the full performance of the system (even marginal Porsche brakes are equal to most other cars on the road).

Jerry M
'78 SC

[jmohn]

I missed this on my first read of your message. Do your brakes "squeal" all the time, with out your foot on the brake pedal, until you reach 40 MPH? If so, something is wrong, I wouldn't trust the brakes, go back to the shop immediately.

Jerry M
'78 SC

[kqw]

Ok... First, who did the brake job?

You shouldn't have a squeal with your foot off the brakes. Matter of fact, if you broke them in correctly, there should be no squealing at all.

[rick-l]

The last pads I bought had detailed instructions on how to break them in.

Something like 4 consecutive hard stops from 50 MPH and immediately let the car sit two hours.

The squeal with your foot off the brake is not normal. The smell may have been your brakes dragging. You may also have needed new brake rubber brake lines,

[jlex]

Doesn't anybody sand their pads before putting them on the car anymore? I always sand mine by hand with a fine grit paper just before installation, & clean the rotor of any fingerprints or oil. The light sanding eliminates the break-in problem (except for the pads conforming to the rotor surface)
regards,
jlex.

[tldry]

I just finished front rotors, bearings, calipers, and pads this past weekend. No squeal here.

[zflea]

Thanks I will call shop in am. It was a well known porsche shop. It stops ok but the squeal is loud and annoying.

[ThePointman]

If your brake job was done correctly they should never make noise while off the pedal EVER. If they are they are dragging as previously mentioned. When applied they can squeak if the backing plates were not treated and during break in, but after that if the job was done correctly using quality parts there should be no squeak or squealing or noise of any kind except maybe tires squealing if you lock the brakes up.