Horrendous Brake Squeal!

[kis]

Must be the piston in the calliper, not retracting properly. Someone on the forum is selling a complete set. Might be worth getting just for the rears? Even though you’ve had (screeching) a while you’ve done all the hard work changing and testing all associated components.

[MrPT]

Ok so today I did the following

- Stripped both rear sides down, discs off etc.
- Cleaned both sides, all components using a wire brush and sandpaper.
- Greased slider pins
- Adjusted hand brake so it’s not fully up, basically adjusted it off a bit
- Copper greased back of pads again
- Ran some sand paper over the face of the pads

Took it out, still squealing!!! Made no difference at all.

And the anti-rattle clips?

[laurieballard]

Ok so today I did the following

- Stripped both rear sides down, discs off etc.
- Cleaned both sides, all components using a wire brush and sandpaper.
- Greased slider pins
- Adjusted hand brake so it’s not fully up, basically adjusted it off a bit
- Copper greased back of pads again
- Ran some sand paper over the face of the pads

Took it out, still squealing!!! Made no difference at all.

And the anti-rattle clips?

Both fine, removed them both and cleaned them up etc.

[laurieballard]

The ones in the for sale section will not fit mine which sucks.

Does anybody know if the E46 calipers are the same? Assuming they came off a 316/318 car and mine is the 2.0l.

Cheers

[kis]

Have you checked those two being broken (on here)? I'm sure one of them is a 2.0?

[laurieballard]

Bought two replacements from a car being broken on here, hopefully they fix the issue!

Thanks all

[laurieballard]

Ha, replaced the callipers and still squealing!!!

Only things left are the handbrake shoes or the slider pins!

It’s weird as hard on braking is ok and light breaking is ok, it only does it at a very specific push down point on the pedal.

[Jembo]

Ha, replaced the callipers and still squealing!!!

Only things left are the handbrake shoes or the slider pins!

It’s weird as hard on braking is ok and light breaking is ok, it only does it at a very specific push down point on the pedal.

From what you’ve done, after the pins & handbrake the only thing left will be to change the car itself

[laurieballard]

[quote=laurieballard post_id=<a href="tel:1663921">1663921</a> time=<a href="tel:1561906712">1561906712</a> user_id=28593]
Ha, replaced the callipers and still squealing!!!

Only things left are the handbrake shoes or the slider pins!

It’s weird as hard on braking is ok and light breaking is ok, it only does it at a very specific push down point on the pedal.

From what you’ve done, after the pins & handbrake the only thing left will be to change the car itself
[/quote]

Indeed, fortunately both those are fairly cheap. I’m am umming and ahhing about getting rid anyway to be honest, want something more practical.

[kis]

Really interesting! Hope you do get it sorted!
I used red rubber grease on the pins and never had any problems. I can't remember but I'm sure you said you greased all the appropriate areas?

[laurieballard]

Really interesting! Hope you do get it sorted!
I used red rubber grease on the pins and never had any problems. I can't remember but I'm sure you said you greased all the appropriate areas?

Yeah I copper greased the slider pins and the pad areas as normal, no difference.

If it were the handbrake assembly (although I cleaned this already), somehow then I would expect to have noticed it when going along, I can't see how it would only manifest when actually braking as the handbrake should be disengaged at this point. If I pull the handbrake up a little when moving, it doesn't cause any similar noises so I am thinking its unlikely to be this.

Driving me up the wall now, am tempted to find some cheapo second hand discs just to change over for a day before I spend money on new ones.

[dans6490]

I had virtually the same issue with my old 2005 X3. I changed the pads and disks to pagid and they squealed under “normal” braking. Under hard braking they didn’t.

I initially thought it was just the new stuff being broken in but after a few thousand miles it was still there.

Cutting a long story short, it turned out to be the discs. After changing the discs to a better brand, the squealing stopped.

From what I had read, I couldn’t see that you had actually replaced the disks, so would definitely be worth doing.

[laurieballard]

I had virtually the same issue with my old 2005 X3. I changed the pads and disks to pagid and they squealed under “normal” braking. Under hard braking they didn’t.

I initially thought it was just the new stuff being broken in but after a few thousand miles it was still there.

Cutting a long story short, it turned out to be the discs. After changing the discs to a better brand, the squealing stopped.

From what I had read, I couldn’t see that you had actually replaced the disks, so would definitely be worth doing.

Interesting, well the discs are Pagid if I remember correctly. ECP often do 50% off so could get two Brembo ones for £60, might give them a go and if it doesn't fix it, I could always flog the Brembo ones and make some of the money back.

[dans6490]

Gotta be worth a try. I did have the callipers refreshed also but looking back I should’ve realised it was the disks and / or pads as in the wet there was no squeal.

Understand your frustration tho as it’s really annoying and also embarrasing.

[laurieballard]

Ive now replaced the following on the rear:

Pads (three times) - Now Brembo
Discs (twice) - Now Brembo
Calipers
Handbrake shoes - Bosch

Also greased up the slider pins and the normal pad point.

Still squealing.

Im gonna have to sell the car I think, Im not sure what else it could be!