db Posted May 3, 2007 Share Posted May 3, 2007 Right. Front brakes. New greenstuff pads fitted on old discs. I've got the squeal from hell. Makes people turn round, babies cry, the works. I'm armed with a tube of copaslip, as I understand this helps. where do I squirt it? An internet search suggests the back of the pads where they contact the pistons. Back isn't clear - I appear to have left and right, or at least inside and outside. To what extent will I have to dismantle the car to do this? Wheels off? Find a spanner? Any advice or piccies? Ever, in Delbert's white suit, db My ... Preciousss! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesElliott Posted May 3, 2007 Share Posted May 3, 2007 Standard front brakes?? If so, remove wheel. Pull out R clip from end of pad retaining rod. Pull out rod. Remove pads. Rub copaslip on back of pads. Replace pads, put rod back in, put R clip back in end of rod, put wheel back on. Simple! Charles --- My SuperGraduates 2006 diary My SuperGraduates 2005 diary, My Caterham Academy 2004 build and race diary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frying Pan Posted May 3, 2007 Share Posted May 3, 2007 Just to make Charles' post absolutely clear, the 'back' of the pad is the side against the piston, NOT against the disk. Rubbing it on the 'front' will reduce the brake squeal, but will make the driver scream See some pictures of the build here. 12000 miles completed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db Posted May 3, 2007 Author Share Posted May 3, 2007 Sounds like a 5 minute job... Is it really? My ... Preciousss! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manxseven Posted May 3, 2007 Share Posted May 3, 2007 yep Caterham Fireblade here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db Posted May 3, 2007 Author Share Posted May 3, 2007 Is there anything that can go wrong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted May 3, 2007 Share Posted May 3, 2007 Car falls off jack Touching brake pad working surface with copaslip coated finger. Cross-thread wheel nuts ........ ok then - no ! While you have the pads out, you may want to file a small 45-degree chamfer across the leading edge (the first edge of the pad that the disc hits when driving forwards) of the brake pads - I have done this as standard for hundreds of years. ****************** And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking... And racing around to come up behind you again. photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db Posted May 3, 2007 Author Share Posted May 3, 2007 I wish people who say that it's easy wouldn't use words like chamfer. My ... Preciousss! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadsport06 Posted May 3, 2007 Share Posted May 3, 2007 I heard a Caterham owner did put it on the friction side. 😳 BRG and Yellow nose VU06 XZX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted May 3, 2007 Share Posted May 3, 2007 Just be careful to kep all the friction surfaces clean and grease free. Take time also to clean the sliding surfaces for the pads and ensure they can slide back and forth on lightly greased calipers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted May 3, 2007 Share Posted May 3, 2007 would you prefer bevel ? Just file the sharp corner off at 45-degrees (that's a bit of a slope) ****************** And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking... And racing around to come up behind you again. photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db Posted May 3, 2007 Author Share Posted May 3, 2007 Is that on both bits of brake pad? My ... Preciousss! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mav Posted May 3, 2007 Share Posted May 3, 2007 Loosen the cap on the Brake fluid reservoir, and put a cloth under neath it. Use a long flat bladed screwdriver to push the pistons back in the caliper BEFORE you remove the old pads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db Posted May 3, 2007 Author Share Posted May 3, 2007 The pads are new - do I still need to do that? My ... Preciousss! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadsport06 Posted May 3, 2007 Share Posted May 3, 2007 I didnt need to from standard new pads to new mintex 1144 as the piston will already be back BRG and Yellow nose VU06 XZX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Walker Posted May 3, 2007 Share Posted May 3, 2007 Coppa slipping the back of the pads is a complete waste of time. As soon ast the pad gets hot the grease burns away . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db Posted May 3, 2007 Author Share Posted May 3, 2007 Do pads really get hot enough to burn off copaslip? My ... Preciousss! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted May 3, 2007 Share Posted May 3, 2007 "Is that on both bits of brake pad?" Leading edge of both pads (all 4 pads on both front wheels !) ****************** And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking... And racing around to come up behind you again. photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Flatters Posted May 4, 2007 Share Posted May 4, 2007 Look, I am no expert on this subject but I have recently had exactly the same problem with brake sqeal that can shatter shop windows at 100m 😳. Brake squeal is ALWAYS present (it is a product of friction caused by 2 surfaces rubbing together) but it is all a matter of resonating frequencies as to whether you can actually hear it. This can be affected by the mass of the caliper or disc or even suspension components. If you look at your average tin-top caliper you will quite often see extra casting lumps on the body of the caliper. These are usually present to upset the resonance that can cause audible brake squeal. One of the main reasons that squeal will start is after switching pad materials (the problem I had) or possibly not bedding the pads in correctly. The use of Coppaslip to stop squeal is a bit of an urban myth. The idea behind it is that the copper particles (not the rather inadequate holding grease) form a barrier between the caliper piston and the brake pad thereby upsetting the nasty resonating frequencies. In reality the effect is quite minimal because there is insufficient material to adequately change the resonating frequency. Using 3m self adheasive shim pads is more likely to succeed but in my case all I succeeded in doing was causing BOTH wheels to squeal . One other thing to try is to de-glaze the disc with some course emery cloth. This will help to remove the pad material deposits that you can't see and which are one of the main causes of squeal when changing pads. Also reface the pads (new or not) by laying a sheet of course emery on a flat surface and using a circular motion take a small amount off the surface each pad. Chamferring the leading and trailing edges (and also the edges of any slots that may be cut in your pads) may also help to minimise squeal. As you can see, there is no easy answer to brake squeal, if there was then someone would be very rich. In my case I have had to replace my disks which ultimately cured the problem (fingers crossed) but I guess it could come back at any time . Good luck *thumbup* *arrowright*Harry Flatters *arrowright* AKA Steve Mell - Surrey AO and Su77on Se7ener Edited by - Harry Flatters on 4 May 2007 09:14:05 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted May 4, 2007 Share Posted May 4, 2007 I find that a damn good hard braking session resolves brake squeal. I also chamfer the leading edge of the pads. I find it comes back again if I do a lot of raod work with very light brake applications - this is made worse I guess if your running "race" pads like RS15's or DS3000 etc which need a bit more heat to do their thing ?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db Posted May 4, 2007 Author Share Posted May 4, 2007 Terrified though I am, I might have a go later. You lot had better be posting once I've got the wheels off... I'm sure it would be easier to pop a bit of Copaslip on the discs... My ... Preciousss! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted May 4, 2007 Share Posted May 4, 2007 I'll be here all afternoon (working really ) ****************** And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking... And racing around to come up behind you again. photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db Posted May 4, 2007 Author Share Posted May 4, 2007 PS - where's the front jacking point (without using the word "wishbone") My ... Preciousss! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted May 4, 2007 Share Posted May 4, 2007 RobW, I don't find that Copaslip burns off brakes. I put it on the sliding surfaces and a smear on the back and when the pads wear out there is still a (somewhat gooey and sticky but nevertheless present) orange residue that keeps it sweet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted May 4, 2007 Share Posted May 4, 2007 I would agree with that ****************** And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking... And racing around to come up behind you again. photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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