Low Speed Squeal

**kaijumax** · 04-20-2008 03:39 PM

I just changed rotors and pads (Zimmerman's and PBR Ultimates). I'm getting a squeal at low (5 MPH) stopping speeds. It's driving me crazy. I added an anti squeak lube to the back of the pads, but it didn't do anything. I didn't experience this problem when I used EBC red pads, though both are ceramic composites. I also want to added Stainless lines, but the steel tubing ends are rounding off even with a tubing wrench. Does anybody sell the tubing or will I have to make my own.
Thanks!

**grimlock** · 04-23-2008 04:05 PM

Dude, I had the EXACT same problem as you. Got Zimmerman x-drilled rotors all the way around and PBR Ultimate Ceramics. I tried the same stuff, brake quiet and what not but it didn't work. I just dealt with it for a while, but the squeak was very loud and embarrassing.

Then, last week, I got new wheels w/ new lugbolts and it completely went away!!!! Your guess is as good as mine, as I was completely baffled, but now the brakes are totally silent and no more annoying squeak. Do you know if the squeaking is isolated to just a single wheel? Mine was the rear driver's wheel, but after the new lugs it went away. This might be a long shot, but try swapping lugs on the squeaky wheel or get new ones. Good luck

**jkimspe** · 04-28-2008 06:26 PM

I have axxis ultimates (same thing), and mine squeal like crazy... its almost embarrasing. I really dont drive to aggressively and only drive 2miles to work each way. Im thinking of swapping out to the less aggressive deluxe pad. Heres a post I found on AW. Hope that helps.

"If you are not an aggressive braker or do a lot of stop and go driving the Ultimate may develop a squeal. The solution is to re bed the pads, even 5 braking operations from 55-10mph, below ABS threshold, will get rid of the squeal. The squeal comes from wipping off the transfer layer in city driving. When high performance pads are cold they are more abrasive and wipe of the transfer layer

Deluxe plus is the low dust low noise pad in the AXXIS line and much more tolerant of city driving.

The down side is lower MOT.

Bob Lee
StopTech LLC"

**jeremy@matrix** · 04-29-2008 07:20 PM

Yes, you can get ANY brake pads to squeak due to low speed/in-town driving. Get onto an open road and with no one behind you, do some higher speed stopping. This should get rid of the squeak.

Make sure to bed your brakes 2 times initially.

HTH,
Jeremy

**S4Audi00** · 05-02-2008 08:31 AM

I just put new front pads on my 00 S4. (The rotors were still in spec.) I did 6 to 7 hard brake sets from 60 to 10, to set the pads to the rotors and I had no problems for about a day, then I got a squeal at low speeds and I hate it! I drive rather aggressively on the back roads by my home. I am not in much stop and go traffic. I can not figure it out for the life of me. I also put a different set of front pads on a friends 00 A6 (same calipers in the front) Same F-ING problem.

But I never had this problem on my old pads, now I wish that I looked to see what kind they were before I threw them away. I believe that it is in the pad. That is all I changed on two different cars. My question is… What pads don’t squeal?

**jeremy@matrix** · 05-02-2008 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by S4Audi00

I just put new front pads on my 00 S4. (The rotors were still in spec.) I did 6 to 7 hard brake sets from 60 to 10, to set the pads to the rotors and I had no problems for about a day, then I got a squeal at low speeds and I hate it! I drive rather aggressively on the back roads by my home. I am not in much stop and go traffic. I can not figure it out for the life of me. I also put a different set of front pads on a friends 00 A6 (same calipers in the front) Same F-ING problem.

But I never had this problem on my old pads, now I wish that I looked to see what kind they were before I threw them away. I believe that it is in the pad. That is all I changed on two different cars. My question is… What pads don’t squeal?

We really like the Pagid RS4-2-1 pads for the front and haven't had complaints of squeaking. Just remember what I mentioned above; You can get ANY brake pads to squeak due to low speed/in-town driving.

**omeganaut** · 05-23-2008 03:59 PM

This sort of relates to grimlock's post. It may not even be the brakes. I had a Land Rover that did the same thing after I replaced the brake pads. I noticed a squeal at low speeds in one of my front wheels. I took the wheels off inspected and nothing seemed like it was sticking. Put the wheels back on and was gone but then showed up again after driving a while. I did this several times and I figured it may be from the actual wheels on the hub. I took the wheels off, put them back on, torque'd the nuts correctly, drove around and re-torque'd the lug nuts and the squeel never came back. I think it was due to the lug nuts loosening.

**jackk** · 06-07-2008 05:15 PM

Try power washing the rotors and then driving backwards and breaking a couple of times on a empty lot. This tends to eliminate the noise at least for a while.

**spikeboost** · 07-15-2008 05:28 PM

i am having a similar problem, My brakes tend to squeal at low speeds but stop after a few min then would start again after hitting a bump or getting to about 60mph. Does anyone have any ideas?

**jeremy@matrix** · 07-15-2008 06:00 PM

Originally Posted by spikeboost

i am having a similar problem, My brakes tend to squeal at low speeds but stop after a few min then would start again after hitting a bump or getting to about 60mph. Does anyone have any ideas?

See if there's any brake dust build-up in the brakes. We just had a B7 2.0T client in complaining of low speed squeaking. We removed his wheels/tires and found a bunch of brake dust build-up. We blew it out, rebedded the brakes for him, and all was quiet.