Recently, my mom took the scooby to Pep Boys for a brake change. The front brakes have been squealing like a stuck pig since. I read somewhere that squealing at low speeds is normal since they removed the asbestos compounds from brake pads, but the brakes squeal nearly any time I touch the brake pedal. It's getting to the point where I can't even drive with the windows down anymore.

At first I thought the pads were glazed. Last week I tried sanding the edges of the pad to bevel it, but that didn't last. The squeal came back with a vengeance earlier this morning.

From what I can tell, most people on this forum recommend that you bed squealing pads. I _would_ try, but I can't find anyplace suitable to drive 60mph and drive around without coming to a complete stop (I live in semi-urban New York). My only obvious options are the highway or a mall parking lot. Seeing as how I'd rather not have a late night encounter with the cops, the mall seems a more than decent prospect. Would that be suitable, or is there a way to bed the pads within the speed limit? :P

 

Oh, and as far as Pep Boys' is concerned, I wouldn't even recommend letting their service center vacuum your car. Everyone I know has had some sort of negative experience with them or their products.

 

See my post about Axxis pads.

I used the Axxis Ceramics and absolutely no noise.

I sell Pagid, Textar, Roulunds, Jurid and Axxis pads wholesale.....believe me, I have heard complaints about brake noise (especially on BMW and Volvo). After dealing with my Pagid rep (from Germany), most of the time, the noise is due to:

-caliper design

-lack of proper installation/break-in

-problems in control arm mounting or ball joints

-driving some pad compounds too GENTLY (especially on some of the Textar and Pagid pad compounds for Mercedes W126 and W140 chassis.)

I installed Axxis ceramics, followed bed-in and have had no noise issues.

I would swap out the no name Pep Boys pads and go for a known brand and have them installed by a reputable specialist.

 

Lots of noise could be due to the vibration caused between the brake pads and the backing plates. They make substances to put between the pads and the plates to cancell out the noise.

- Scott

 

I dunno, I keep reading that it never lasts more than a week. I think I'm just going to get the stock brake pad kit. Mayhaps the old anti-rattle clips are past their prime...

By the way, I tried bedding them on the highway and wound up crossing a bridge, getting lost and seeing a lot more of NY than I'd bargained for. All at 4AM with no cell phone... fun!

Thanks for the advice anyway, fellas.

 

The moly lube that Subaru suggests/installs will last. I pulled my OE pads at 41K and it was all over the shims still.