Well I'm full of problems today...

 

I've been having a slight brake squeal. It only occurs under VERY light braking. What's recently been happening though is it'll squeak when at low speeds. Usually only below 30mph I can hear it and when driving straight. When turning it seems to go away and doesn't come back once wheels are straightened out again. I'm not sure if it happens once the brakes are applied and then once I've let off that they're not fully separating from the calipers or what. Any ideas?

Caliper might need to be serviced out with a rebuild kit. Typically about $5 to $8 bucks to rebuild your calipers. The pistons are easy to clean up and check.

The "tin" hardware that keeps the pads in place was rubbing one of my rotors causing about the same issue.

Typically that is supplied with the need pads. I wonder how many people skip replacing those pieces?

I've never been given them when servicing brakes. I check them, and if they're good leave em. If they're bad then I replace them.

Typically what I get looks like...

 

If it happens when turning might be axle joint 

You should be able to check axle joints if you jack up the front axle. As long as the axles have no tension on them then you should be able to detect looseness in the u-joint.

 

As for brakes like I said I would do a drop test of the pistons. With the caliper and caliper seals removed I would do a drop test of the piston into each hole. The piston should fall to the bottom of each bore without being pushed. This is a sign of the piston growing in size dried brake fluid on the piston. Just need to use a very fine sandpaper and retune each piston to it own hole. Typically during sanding you'll see the dried brake fluid.

I don't think it's a joint of any kind as it doesn't happen when turning, typically only when lightly applying the brakes and sometimes a little after that. I'll look into the caliper check Mike. I'm pretty sure the brakes were serviced not that long ago too. I'm going to get under there and look to see if anythings obviously out of place or could rub. 

Ok so I have an update to this...

 

The squeaks are still there, but it's not as much as it was before. Previously it was every time the brakes were applied, lightly, as soon as more pressure was added to the brakes the squeak would go away.

 

Now it's just occasionally happening, but, I did notice that it will squeak here and there when I'm turning left. I know it's still brakes because I hear the squeak, and apply VERY light braking and it changes the sound or goes away.

 

What could this be?

Have you pulled them apart?  Sometimes its just something really simply like a cracked brake pad which will cause the pad to "sing" a little tune for ya every time the pressure is just right.....

Hmm, I didn't know that. I'll look into it. The brakes were serviced not too long ago by the PO but it might be worth tearing into to check for things like that.

It doesn't hurt to check things out especially the brake system, if you're moving you got to stop.  You say the PO serviced them, did he do them himself or have Manny, Mo, or Jack do it? I've seen people put brake pads in backward and then wonder what that grinding noise was.  What was the quality of parts used?  I have people all the time tell me " use the cheapest parts because I'm selling the car". 

It was replaced by Les Schwab so nothing fancy. I'll tear into it soon and check for anything out of the norm.

My Honda had a light squeak when braking that morphed into a groaning just as I stopped.  I had recently replaced the pads and hardware with Napa gold shoes. Pulled everything down and applied brake quiet to back of the pads. I quieted down for about 2,000 miles and came back. Napa gold is top of the line. My friend that owns the Napa store said he doubts it would be the pads but gave me a new set to try.  I ran the offending pads 20,000 miles until my wife's gripping forced me to change them. Yep, it was the pads.  Never assume the new part has to be perfect even when buying the best. PS.  The old pads were almost as thick as the new ones with 25K on them.

Appreciate the input. I'll be doing a through once over in the near future.

Check out  this month's edition of  Brake & Front End magazine for "Brake noise diagnostics"

http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk//launch.aspx?pbid=704c7755-b922-4620-b3f3-8d55b86b360a

 

Nice article. I kind of thumbed over quickly and a lot of good information on a general level.