I hear so many good things about these pads but im having squealing even after bedding them in on new slotted e-line rotors. They only squeal at light stop. When I removed the brembo pads there was almost like a sticky silicone (what is that called??) on the back of the pads so im not sure if I need that to stop the squealing. Thanks for any advice for what could be the cause for the squeal.

 

yes!!!!

what happens when metal on metal rubbing occurs?
you get screeching, wailing, squealing noises....

you need some kind of grease on the caliper pins and shims.

 

the pads should have come with some antisqueal paste that goes on the back of the shims. Did you use it?

 

Duralast is possibly the worsest brand you can get. Wagner's are better, but whatever. Just my opinion.

Sounds like you didn't change your own pads. The sticky stuff you're feeling on the back of the pads is most likely brake lubricant. It's used to keep the pads from squealing if used correctly and in the proper locations. Unless the lubrication wasn't apllied correctly or it's missing some, I would blame it on the pads. Did you get ceramic pads?

 

Akebono ProAct is a very good alternative.

 

Yeah I got the gold cmax pads. I did do the job myself and yeah it could have been old grease. I greased the pins but I dont believe I placed grease on the shims of the back of the pad. I thought I put a little on the pistons because they make contact with the shims but I was doing shocks and bushings at the same time so its kinda fuzzy + dealing with the common stripped brembo bolt. Is there anti squeal stuff at AZ you would recommend??

 

And opinions do vary. Many of us on here are quite happy with the Duralast Gold CMAX pads. I have zero squeal on my '05 with the CMAX pads.

I have always used the little packets from the auto store. Usually they have the little packets at the counter of synthetic brake grease. There may be better stuff out there, but these have always worked fine for me.

 

when you do your brakes you need to put copper based anti seize on the following parts

1. shims
2. brake pad ears

also you need to bleed your caliper out so that you remove any air/moisture that has accumulated in the area.

 

I believe that is what it was, copper based anti sieze. Because it was an orange type paste that wasn't grease. The car was previously taken to the dealer for everything so they must of used that. I have never used that when I have done brakes, but do you think it will stop my squealing when lightly braking?

 

The internet is so vast...
Do this and you'll be good...doesn't have to be copper based, the graphite stuff works fine too.

 

yes it will stop the squealing under light braking.

 

No luck! Well I got some CRC brake quiet and added it to the back of the pads and added brake grease to all moving parts. I still have brake squeal that sounds like a train stopping only under light braking when the brakes are warm. They are fine when I first start driving, but a few miles of driving and pull up to a stop sign there it goes. This is driving me crazy! I think im going to return these cmax pads and just get the duralast semi-metalic. I am assuming its the ceramic pad because I have new rotors. Id rather have dust than this awful sound. Any suggestions why this is happening would be great because I dont get it. Thanks!

 

you sure your piston isn't sticking?

 

Positive! The pistons move smooth and easy. Also the sound immediately goes away once I let off the brake or push the brake pedal harder so i think with light pressure with these ceramics they just squeal and Im not happy.

 

A "semi-metallic" will always be noisier and dustier than an equivalent ceramic pad, given the same brand, similar purpose (street)

Did you bed the pads in until they started to fade a bit?

 

Is there a chance your rotor is slightly warped?

 

this^

There is a proper break in procedure.. if you had done a quick stop before the pads went thru the proper "heat cycle" as in you slammed on the brakes and stopped from greater than say 60mph, there is a chance the pads were glazed over.

I have been running the Cmax pads on EBC slotted rotors for nearly 2 years. The pad wear is great, and they are virtually silent. See about getting a set under warranty? Whats your location?

 

The rotors are new and I feel no vibration in the pedal for signs of warpage. I did do 1 break in procedure and they got hot smelly but it did nothing. I talked to AZ and they said I can swap out for a new set if it proceeds because they shouldn't be doing that. Would you suggest another bedding or just swapping for a new set? Im located in MI.

 

Just swap for a new set. Bed them a couple times when you put the new ones on. But yeah, just swap em... especially if they said they would do it already lol. Just costs a little bit of your free time.

 

Yeah lately this car has been taking a lot of it for some reason. Nothing can work out the 1st time. I have had to replace the alternator that i got from Autozone 3 times because the bearing seems to go bad on them and squeals and its doing it again so now im just going to have to try a NEW Honda alternator instead of Duralast remans and hopefully that will solve the problem. Weird when the alternator is new it spins soundlessly give it a month and it sounds like birds . I will update when i get the new set of pads and give it another shot . For now im working out of town for a couple weeks.

 

Seriously what is the deal!? I do everything perfect and the new set was perfectly silent for about 100 miles and then its back! Its so annoying to take care of things and have it come out worse than what they were! I think I am going to downgrade to AZ duralast gold ceramics (cheaper ceramic) or try these: http://m.ebay.com/itm/400707118757?nav=SEARCHWhat should I do! ? Thanks for your help.

 

You've been dealing with this for over a month now?
Put new pads on, for crying out loud

 

I have! 2 new sets of duralast cmax! Both squeal

 

Then something else is wrong with the brakes or the install.

Guessing the rotors are glazed/dorked, shims are missing/installed incorrectly, or the grease/anti-squeal wasn't put on all parts needed.

 

I agree! I havent had a problem with the CMAX Gold pads and Ive gone through 3 sets of them. I put Wagner pads on once and by day 2, i was scared to drive my TL for fear they would destroy something. Took the wagners off after 6 days and found that one of the pads had actually CRACKED. Lets just say i needed more than just new pads after that... Never again!

 

So i know i am still dealing with this squeal at light braking but have noticed my driver side rotor has these lines of stuff built up on them. Im not sure what it is and if this could be a sign of what the cause of the squeal is? Should I do a bed in procedure to try and eliminate this? Brand new rotors shouldnt look like that with new pads. Thanks for any input.

 

Pull the rotors and have them resurfaced. That will most likely help


Edit: just read they're brand new rotors, damn those didn't look new to me, would of had no idea if you didn't say... Maybe its the duralast pads, maybe they're garbage, I always use the pep boys pro stops, never had issues with them. You can go to a NAPA or Oreilly if you they're in you're area, I also like their stuff.

 

Resurface rotors
Replace pads with lifetime warranty ?

I'm def no expert, but this is where I'd start

 

Can someone resurface a slotted rotor? Yeah a month ago i already tried another new set of cmax pads under warranty. I think i may just spend the money and purchase the dusty OEM Brembo pads and at least i know they should NOT squeal and leave these lines of residue on the rotors. It may be hard to tell but yeah the lines arent grooves that indent; they are raised lines of residue. Always appreciate your input!

 

In my opinion, squeal can only really be beat with re-greasing. Are you sure you're greasing all the right places (shims/pins/any slide contact points). As far as bedding in, I'd go and do it AGAIN to mate the surfaces...a good solid 10 times going 40mph to 10 mph...hard enough to stop abruptly but not hard enough to kick ABS...and don't hold any point afterward so do it on a long, low traffic road. They should smell and be hot as all hell when you're done.

 

Yup with both new sets i used caliper grease on the 2 pins and top and bottom of pad and also put CRC brake quiet on the inside and outside of the shims. Note i did have to slightly grind the top and bottom of each pad to make them fit otherwise they wouldn't. I have always done that to pads that dont fit and never had a problem so i dont think that matters but thought id mention it. Im truly at a loss with what the cause is my thought is the pad that's why i figure if i go back to oem i can confirm something. Ill try bedding again with the cmax pads to see if it will eliminate that residue and ill come back to update. Thank you

 

No idea if that matters to the issue you are having...but you should not have needed to grind anything. They should have just fit.

 

Those duralast pads were not fitting unless i took a hammer to them and then they would be never coming out. So i had to take a little off so they would fit in.

 

This. With that issue right there I would have just returned them. I have never in my 6+ years of working on cars and doing countless brakes on hondas, acuras, toyotas etc, encountered something like this. Switch the pads, I have a feeling your issue will go away

 

Yeah that's why my thoughts are to spend the extra money and just get OEM pads instead of trying aftermarket that i dont seem to have good luck with. I would like to hear from Cmax users if they were able to just slide the pads right in for a perfect fit because both pairs i had didn't.