Sounds like your pretty sure that your calipers are releasing and not dragging. Some remaining possibilities:

1) Some brake pads require shims between the caliper and the back of the pad and some require lubrication. These can reduce noise. Do you have them installed?

2) Have you checked the stainless clips and pads for proper seating in the caliper slots with no distortion or binding?

3) Were the rotors turned or new? If new did you remove the grease? If original you may need to have them turned or hit them with a light sanding to rough up the surfaces so that the pads break in correctly

4) Wagner Thermo Quiet pads are dead quiet and trouble free for me. I use them on everything except high end vehicles that need metal impregnated pads.

5) It could also be the hub(s).


George

 

Shims (sometimes there is only one shim on both sides):





George

 

+1 I am also agree with George mostly it's from the brake pad shims

 

Are these shims supposed to be included with the pads? The pads I bought didn't come with any.


These were listed under "premium", but now I notice they're priced under wholesaler closeout. Maybe I just bought crappy pads?

 

That's a shim on that top pad


George

 

Okay, I thought you were referring to a separate piece. That shim was already attached to the pad. So yes, I did install the pads with shims. And I applied brake lube to the back of the pads before installing.

 

Sometimes that are attached to the pad, sometimes they are loose and added like the oem pads.


George

 

Taking things apart again, I got another caliper for the passenger side, since I saw some abnormal markings on the rotor on that side. I swear the noise is coming from the driver's side, but I could be wrong. These are the pads from the caliper I'm replacing. Do they look glazed?


To me they don't seem right, but I could be wrong.

Also there was some break dust build up in the caliper



The pads have some rough wear on the edges, not sure if that shows up in the pic above.

As for the other side, the driver's side, the pads also seem to look glazed I think. And some odd rough wear patterns, including a small piece of brake material that is hanging off if you look close:



So I'm still not exactly sure what the deal is. Could these pads just be crappy? They're supposed to be premium, but that might not mean anything. The evidence would suggest that the calipers could be to blame, since the pads appear to have overheated. But both calipers are bad at the same time? I guess I will see what happens when I install the replacement caliper. I'm about ready to say screw it and toss these pads and get a different kind.

After all this you think the rotors are shot? Ugh I'll be paying for this job twice when all is said and done.

 

It’s hard to assess this situation remote control with pictures. There does appear to be a fair amount of oil or grease around those caliper pistons and even on the pads to some extent. If I’m seeing that correctly that area should be fairly dry. Is one of those pads wearing in a wedge shape or is that the angle of the picture? What do the surface of the rotors look like? Some pads have a specific break in procedure that Might help. Those look like semi metallic pads which in theory have more stopping power but can be noisier than ceramic or organic pads.


George

 

Everything might look messy because I was handling it so much when taking it apart. When I first installed the pads I had put a little grease on the back of the pads.