[Christmas]

Hello!

Sorry in advance for the long post, but I want to make sure I get all the relevant details in here.

In the mornings (or anytime my vehicle hasn't been driven in a while) my brakes will squeal a super loud, ear-piercing squeal until they get to temp (usually after a couple of stop signs). I've tried everything I can think of, but I can't seem to figure this out. Neither can the mechanics who've looked at it.

Here are all the details:

• I have a 2008 2wd 4runner sport. I upgraded the back brack calipers, rotors, lines, and pads a couple of years ago to the 5th gen calipers with akebono pads and brembo rotors. I lubed everything up with syl glide.
  
• This last year, I did the same upgrade to the front with the same brand components and the same lube. After a couple of days of driving, the brakes started squealing.
  
• I took everything apart and re-lubed it all, and things were fine. For a couple of days. Then the squeal returned.
  
• Decided to take it to a highly rated local lube place that does brakes to get a professional opinion.
  
• They told me the pads had no grease and the rotors had hot spots and would need resurfacing. I asked what was causing the grease to disappear or the rotors to get hotspots, but they couldn't give me an answer.
  
• They said it'd be about $750 to do the work. I told them I'm not comfortable treating symptoms without knowing the cause (and was super put off by their estimate) so I picked up the vehicle and brought it home.
  
• I took off the front wheels and discovered they only finger-tightened all my lugnuts (oh boy!) and that the brake pads were still greased up with my Syl Glide.
  
• At this point, I went to the other 4runner forum for advice, and came across the idea of using different lube. So I cleaned the brake pads and put on some moly and the squeal went away. For two days.
  
• I decide to go to a new mechanic. My landlord recommends hers, who used to be a Toyota tech. Perfect. He takes everything apart and says everything looks fine, except a groove in the front passenger rotor on the outer edge. He doesn't see anything that would cause the groove or the squeal though.
  
• He decides to resurface the rotors for good measure (for $600 less than the last place quoted).
  
• Two days later, the squeal returns. He said to go ahead and order a new rotor to replace the one with the groove and he'll install it for free. If that doesn't fix it, he'll do more investigating.
  
• Meanwhile, on the other 4runner forum, somebody suggests putting CRC brake quiet between the shims and the pad. Sure. I'll try anything at this point. This makes the squeal go away for just one day.

And that's where we are! The only thing I can think to do at this point is clip off the squeal indicators and see if that does anything. I can't figure out what's causing this squeal or why regreasing the pad contact points makes it temporarily disappear. It looks like @woodsby had the same issue with his 5th gen, but I'm not seeing a resolution.


Any help, ideas, or anything would be super appreciated!