Hello!! So 2 years ago I needed front pads and rotors replaced on my Matrix. At that time the pads were really worn down and I had shaking. I admit, I did go the cheapo route because I wasn't expecting to have the car this long!! After discovering this car lasts for really long time I kinda regret it. Anyways, it just started to develop a squeal sound during breaking, but it only happens after 25 minutes of driving. If I make shorter trips, I hear nothing. Even in the mornings after being outside with dew/condensation it is quiet. Anyways, I took it into a brake shop and they suggest replacing the front pads and rotors to the tune of $250.
My braking feels fine, and I only have about 15K miles on them, plenty of thickness to the pads. I can live with the sound, but does the sound mean they are falling? And the car doesn't shake so the rotors must be fine, right? They brake shop wasn't too pushy but I'm hesitant to do this if it doesn't need to be done.
Thoughts?
If the braking feels fine, and there is no pulsing of the brake pedal, you should not need to replace the rotors. However, the brake pads might not have been of a high quality, and should be looked at and maybe replaced. Get either OEM or the Akebono pads that Scotty recommends if replacing.
Not surprising with cheap brake pads. If the car stops all right, and the pads and rotors are not excessively worn just live with the squealing. Next time use better pads (Scotty recommends Akebono) and apply some disc brake anti-squeal compound like CRC "Disc Brake Quiet" to the back of the pads.
