I have a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan that needed new brakes. I watched a bunch of videos on YouTube along with Scotty’s videos and decided to do it myself. I live in Canada and bought Brembo brakes from Canadian Tire as they happened to be on sale. Even on sale they were more expensive than the Raybestos or Wagner brakes, but I remember people on YouTube recommending I get better quality brakes if I can afford them, so I went ahead and bought pads (P11035N) and rotors (09.N248.11). I changed them according to the recommended instructions which were pretty consistent among all the videos. I lubricated the abutments and slider pins using the recommended greases and also put anti-seize on the rotors where it meets the hub. After about 200km, the brakes started squealing really bad. I decided to buy some CRC disc brake quiet even though these pads had shims, and that didn’t help one bit. I took the car to Canadian Tire and they said I probably just had a bad set of pads, so just take them off and they would give me a new set. I did just that and reinstalled them and greased everything again since I had lots of lubricant and it was all taken apart anyway. Around 200-300km they started squealing again. This time when I took it to Canadian Tire the parts manager came out to take a look and he agreed these were very noisy and even advanced me a full new set of pads and rotors with a promise I would take the old set back to him which I did. It’s been about 300km and the brakes are squealing very bad again. I have no doubt that Canadian Tire will exchange these again for me, but I’m at the point where I can’t get my money back. Should I just swallow the hit and buy Wagner’s? I used to have a Honda Civic and they weren’t noisy after a brake job at all. Or do you think I need to get the Magneti Marelli pads from the dealer?
Those brembo brakes are made of a very hard compound meant for racing (usually) and they will squeal until they get very hot. Its common for people to complain about how loud performance brakes are.
Don’t fret, … there is an effective burnish cycle to seat the friction materials into the opposing rotor surfaces. It requires approx. 20 stops. Here is procedure from Wagner, … but it applies to pretty well all others, without exception:
- Make approximately 20 “Complete Stops” from 30-mph
- OR –
- 20 “Slow-Downs” from 50-mph to 20-mph with light to moderate pedal pressure
- NO PANIC STOPS
- Allow at least 30 seconds between brake applications for the brake pads or shoes to cool down
- It is critical to follow cool down procedures to avoid damaging NAO, Ceramic and Semi-Met friction material as well as the rotor/drum
- No high speed stops and/or braking under heavy loads that could result in glazed or otherwise damaged linings
… easy peasy.
F.S.
