Wheel Squeak until brakes are applied

[js77]

I have a 2006 Sport Edition that I bought about a month ago with 88k on it. When I have the windows down I notice a squeak that seems to match the wheel speed coming from the front end driver side wheel (i think). The front brakes have about 80% left, and I took to the dealer and they couldn't find anything.

I can't hear it at all with the windows up, and it isn't consistent. As soon as I apply the brakes it stops. I can't find any hotspots or anything else out of the ordinary.

Anyone have anything similar happen or any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[welmat]

I know this is a couple months later, but were you ever able to figure this out? I have this exact same problem except on the passenger side. I thought it was a bad rotor, so I put in a new Raybestos rotor along with Toyota pads and the squeek is still there. I had the wheel bearing done in Feb. 2012 on the same wheel so I thought maybe it was a faulty one, but had that checked out today and the dealer couldn't find anything wrong. Said I needed to put more brake grease on the shims. So I did that today and it's still squeaking and driving me nuts. My Calipers are rusty (MN Winters) but the pistons still go in and out, so I don't think it's a seized piston. Any help/suggestions would be great!?

Thanks

 

[4RBob]

pin kit? which is basicly the rubber booty things and then clean up/lube pins.

i had used the green lube before and my mechanic friend thinks that actually shortens the life of those rubber booties. he likes the "metallic" anti-seize.

 

[nevada]

how are the rears?
is it possible the sound is coming from the back?

ive seen it LOTS of times.
customer comes in, "my front brakes are grinding/squeaking/insert noise here!"

when we check, the fronts are in great shape, move on to the rear...wasted.

it would be a good idea to check the rears, just to be sure.

 

[js77]

After 4 trips to the dealer I have been told that the noise is from the brake pads themselves, and that they should be Toyota premium pads. On the previous trip to the dealer they greased the caliper pins and I think the scuffed up the the pads or the rotor (not sure which, the guy that actually did the work wasn't around) and it quieted down for about a week before coming back.

So in the end they said they are just cheap brake pads and they would need to do a brake job to make the noise stop. Normally it costs $290, but for me since I had to bring it back so many times they would do it for $200. What a deal.

 

[4RBob]

brake pads don't make sense since it squeaks when brakes are NOT applied and goes away when applied.

as previous poster mentioned, you guys should check the rears as well. miight be able to hear where it is coming from exactly by walking next to vehicle.

i mentioned the pins/boots above because that was my issue a few weeks ago. it was my rear passenger side, btw.

 

[nevada]

After 4 trips to the dealer I have been told that the noise is from the brake pads themselves, and that they should be Toyota premium pads. On the previous trip to the dealer they greased the caliper pins and I think the scuffed up the the pads or the rotor (not sure which, the guy that actually did the work wasn't around) and it quieted down for about a week before coming back.

So in the end they said they are just cheap brake pads and they would need to do a brake job to make the noise stop. Normally it costs $290, but for me since I had to bring it back so many times they would do it for $200. What a deal.

that doesnt sound right.
a pad squeak almost ALWAYS happens WHILE braking.

unless the brakes are infact worn out, or you have a bad/sticking caliper. either the indicator is on the rotor, or the caliper is holding the pad on the rotor.

also, thats not a terrible price. we would be around $185 or so, and thats NOT using OE pads. but, instead good aftermarket stuff.

 

[js77]

brake pads don't make sense since it squeaks when brakes are NOT applied and goes away when applied.

as previous poster mentioned, you guys should check the rears as well. miight be able to hear where it is coming from exactly by walking next to vehicle.

i mentioned the pins/boots above because that was my issue a few weeks ago. it was my rear passenger side, btw.

I have two data points telling me that its the driver side front wheel:

1. I can't hear it unless I roll down the drivers window. I have checked it with every other combo of open windows and that is the only way I hear it. (not very scientific but about the best I can do)
   
2. When the dealer worked on it 2 trips ago, I was without noise for about week and they worked on the driver side front wheel.

 

[js77]

that doesnt sound right.
a pad squeak almost ALWAYS happens WHILE braking.

unless the brakes are infact worn out, or you have a bad/sticking caliper. either the indicator is on the rotor, or the caliper is holding the pad on the rotor.

also, thats not a terrible price. we would be around $185 or so, and thats NOT using OE pads. but, instead good aftermarket stuff.

That's what I was thinking. If the caliper is bad though it must be pretty minor, because the rotor looks good. Is the way to go a new caliper or can they be rebuilt easily?

 

[welmat]

Sorry for the late response on this. Been on vacation the last week. Mine is definitely the front as well - same way as testing as js77. I only hear it when passenger front window open and I had it briefly stop when I put on the new rotor and pads (but then it came back a couple weeks after) I've regreased everything up there that needs to be (pins, shims etc) and it's still squeaking away. I agree with Nevada. I'm thinking it's a caliper piston(s) that are holding the pad on the rotor and am hopefully going to try and replace it this weekend. If I get around to it, I'll let you know how it goes...

 

[Silvr Bullet]

I just say this post, and had the same issue. My squeak came from the front passenger wheel, when the window was down you could hear it. If I applied the brake it would go away. I had my calipers seized and had them replaced a couple of months before I noticed the squeak. (calipers replaced in January, so I may have not heard the noise due to the windows being up). I took it to my shop and they found that my rotor had a high spot in it that was rubbing on the calipers, so they took it off and put it on the machine that I guess smoothes the rotors (not sure if that's what the machine does) and I had no more noise and that was done back in march. So if a shop or the dealer are trying to have you buy new parts, do not do it, it's a high spot on the rotor and you just need a shop that can smooth the rotor evenly. It cost me $65 and the problem was solved. I hope everyone sees this post before money is spent on something that is not the problem.

 

[welmat]

Js77 - I put on the new caliper today for my front passenger side. So far no squeaking and I drove about 50 miles today after I put it on. We'll see if the fix is permanent or temporary... I'll report back in a week or two with an update. Have to give props to Kmvreter for this post on how to replace. Very easy to do (for someone who'd never done it before) http://www.toyota-4runner.org/maintenance/36979-front-brake-caliper-pad-replacement.html Silvr Bullet - thanks for the suggestion. I put on a brand new rotor and pads and still had the same problem. Anyways, hopefully mine was the caliper issue and it's gone now after today. Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[welmat]

JS77 - It's been a week and still no squeaking from the brake pad/rotor. I'd try replacing your caliper and see if that does the trick for you. Good luck!

 

[js77]

JS77 - It's been a week and still no squeaking from the brake pad/rotor. I'd try replacing your caliper and see if that does the trick for you. Good luck!

Shortly after my last post I replaced the front pads and sanded down the rotors a bit to take the glaze off. It was quiet as a mouse after that but its been about 400 miles and I thought I heard it start to come back, but if it is it is intermittent. If it does I am going after the caliper next, can't really see it being anything else.

As a side note, when I replaced the pads I noticed the drivers side shims were really loose, whereas the passenger side where fine. Its possible that was the problem or something else made them go bad (like the caliper).

Hope yours stays quiet. What an annoying problem.

 

[lesner555]

I have a 2006 Sport Edition that I bought about a month ago with 88k on it. When I have the windows down I notice a squeak that seems to match the wheel speed coming from the front end driver side wheel (i think). The front brakes have about 80% left, and I took to the dealer and they couldn't find anything.

I can't hear it at all with the windows up, and it isn't consistent. As soon as I apply the brakes it stops. I can't find any hotspots or anything else out of the ordinary.

Anyone have anything similar happen or any suggestions?

Thanks

Hi Extremely Sorry to revive this old thread but I read your problem and it is exactly the same as mine right now. I just bought my 2007 4Runner with 100k miles on it. The brakes and rotors were replaced last week by the seller from Toyota. But now I hear the same squeeky sound coming when driving at low speed in the city. It goes away when I apply the brakes. I really need help to isolate this problem because it is extremely annoying. Thank you

 

[DC runner]

Could be a couple of things:

1. Low pad indicator. Since you said the dealer replaced the pads, not likely, but this is usually the culprit. Verify they actually replaced the pads.

2. Crappy Pads/Install: The way disc brakes work is, when you apply the brake, your pistons use a ton of force and PUSH the pads onto the rotor. When you remove the brake pedal, the pads usually don't push that far from the rotors. There is a small spring that is supposed to 1. prevent rattling and 2. help push the pads back off the rotors. These springs are really quite tiny and crappy and if the dealer did a crappy install, it is very possible your pads are still slightly touching the rotors even with the brakes off. This, in combo with your cheap pad which are more likely to squeak, could be causing this. It isn't really an issue other than annoying, and you might run through your pads more quickly.

That is what I have. I will let others chime in.

 

[js77]

Hi Extremely Sorry to revive this old thread but I read your problem and it is exactly the same as mine right now. I just bought my 2007 4Runner with 100k miles on it. The brakes and rotors were replaced last week by the seller from Toyota. But now I hear the same squeeky sound coming when driving at low speed in the city. It goes away when I apply the brakes. I really need help to isolate this problem because it is extremely annoying. Thank you

I was able to tell clearly that the noise was coming from the drivers side, so that helped me narrow it down. Honestly the first time I pulled it apart to inspect everything I should have realized what was going on. The drivers side caliper had a lot of build up on the back side of the pads right where the pistons would make contact and on the caliper. I did the pads just because it was a cheaper option, but the caliper is what solved the problem. I'm pretty sure on of the pistons just wouldn't retract as it should causing constant contact between the pad and the rotor.

Sorry for the delayed response, I'll try and watch my email closer if you have more questions.

 

[BOSMECH]

I have had the same problem on my driver side replace pads wheel hub assembly and it still squeaks I will do my caliper and rotor next.

 

[MarkinWMich]

My squeaky brake problem was easily fixed with some high temp brake grease on all the moving and contact parts. I just used a Q-tip cotton swab. Got in there deep, in and around the pistons, as well.

I think mine was likely caused by cleaning the brakes a little too well with brake parts cleaner. I think I sprayed off the grease.

CRC brake de-squeak works well too, but only for a few days.

I am sure this is not a "fix" for everyone, but it worked for me.

 

[lesner555]

Sorry for the late response guys. I went to my local mechanics today in the morning and got my pins lubricated and it seemed to quieten down the noise but now its back . Seems like I will change my caliper next and see how that goes.
Will provide an update after some time. And thank you everybody for the replies