ATH

Couple of questions regarding squeaky brakes. I read somewhere that they can be caused by a warped rotor... is this true? First, my girlfriend's Volvo has THE squeakiest brakes ever - it's extremely embarassing when she pulls up to stop lights. And recently my brakes have begun to squeak when slowing from higher speeds (50+), but do not squeak when going slower than that.

So, what causes brakes to squeak only at slow speeds, and what causes brakes to squeak only at high speeds? Is there any way I can fix this? I was thinking she probably needs new rotors, but my fronts are brand new (OEM) so I don't know what I can do - maybe stop hard from 100 or something?

Thanks!

DocSlow (Mini Pig)

Slam on 'em a few times from high speeds

mpwolf

If the pads and rotors are new, try a few hard 60-10 slows (not stops!). Do it 5 or 6 times, you should smell brakes. That should bed the pads properly.

Stealth4

how long to pads usually last? mine have started squeaking a good amount

mpwolf

Really depends, with regular street useage, maybe 30k-40k.

Flyboy

and a driver's education course on them. They squeaked before those events and continued to. Just had my car in for the 40k service interval and they deglazed the pads and rotors - squeaking is gone.

I didn't ask about how much looked to be left on the pads, but figured since they were working on them specifically, and they didn't change them, they aren't close to being done yet. Driving style probably has a big play in how many miles you get out of them. I try and coast up to stops whenever possible so I doubt I go through pads as quick as some others.