Brake noise help

falconey · 07-15-2021, 02:31 PM

Hi folks, looking for a bit of feedback on a brake noise I've been dealing with. Nice little squeal that happens with the rotation of the wheel. Almost sounds like a bird chirping when rpms move up. I can recreate the noise with the car jacked up and it comes from the brake pad and rotor on the passenger front. Torqued the caliper pins again and no change so took off the pads. Hoping someone sees something I don't. Pads and rotors look pretty normal to me. Pads are akenobo.

Also on a size note is there any national chain that will resurface slotted/drilled rotors. Thinking this could help.

jsunma · 07-16-2021, 06:43 AM

Well, you may get a variety of different opinions online, but I would say that you have virtually no lubrication on those pads, and that could result in noise.

My suggestion would be to get some silicone brake pad grease and really grease up the back of the pads (one seems to have no grease at all on it) and also a bit under the wings (whatever you call them) that slide on the guide pins. I apply that stuff liberally and have never had any issues with squeaking or noise. Most pad kits provide a tiny packet of the stuff with the pads, but that's really just a sample and not enough to be functional.

I always use the Akebono pads too.

I use this stuff...but anything similar would work.

tcphoto · 07-16-2021, 08:02 AM

Didn’t look like they used any brake quiet or similar when the brakes were installed, hence the noice. BMW deems rotors to be a one time use item, so I install new pads and rotors together.

mainbearing · 07-16-2021, 11:07 AM

Try changing out the rubber pin sleeves. They are not supposed to be lubed.

The metal pad contact points can use a little caliper grease.

I use ATE or Pagid Euro pads, they have been fine. Akebonos are supposed to be quieter? I did not want to use them because of weak bite complaints.

sonofsun · 07-16-2021, 01:32 PM

Not sure about resurfacing rotors. These days you can get a new rotor for relatively cheap and be sure that it's of the right spec. Not sure how many people here have had their rotors resurfaced. I replaced both my pads and rotors at the same time around 90000 miles. I used Zimmermann and Akebono.

falconey · 07-18-2021, 08:45 AM

Thanks for the opinions. I typically use the lube that comes from fcp with the pads, but it had definitely dried out. Added more and no change. Rotors are r1 concepts and are about a year and half old, but have less than 10000 miles. No real hard driving either, but I think they are warped. I would say it's the pad, but the noise isn't consistent through the rotation of the wheel. The noise comes and goes in a pattern as the wheel rotates.

07-15-2021, 02:31 PM	#1
falconey Captain 483 Rep 681 Posts Drives: 18 f80cs, 21 f97 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: atlanta iTrader: (0)	Brake noise help Hi folks, looking for a bit of feedback on a brake noise I've been dealing with. Nice little squeal that happens with the rotation of the wheel. Almost sounds like a bird chirping when rpms move up. I can recreate the noise with the car jacked up and it comes from the brake pad and rotor on the passenger front. Torqued the caliper pins again and no change so took off the pads. Hoping someone sees something I don't. Pads and rotors look pretty normal to me. Pads are akenobo. Also on a size note is there any national chain that will resurface slotted/drilled rotors. Thinking this could help. Attached Images
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

07-16-2021, 06:43 AM	#2
jsunma Captain 654 Rep 815 Posts Drives: 2008 328iT 6MT RWD Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Massachusetts iTrader: (0)	Well, you may get a variety of different opinions online, but I would say that you have virtually no lubrication on those pads, and that could result in noise. My suggestion would be to get some silicone brake pad grease and really grease up the back of the pads (one seems to have no grease at all on it) and also a bit under the wings (whatever you call them) that slide on the guide pins. I apply that stuff liberally and have never had any issues with squeaking or noise. Most pad kits provide a tiny packet of the stuff with the pads, but that's really just a sample and not enough to be functional. I always use the Akebono pads too. I use this stuff...but anything similar would work. Attached Images
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-16-2021, 08:02 AM	#3
tcphoto Brigadier General 3548 Rep 3,060 Posts Drives: E92 335i 6MT Coupe Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Nashville, TN iTrader: (1)	Didn’t look like they used any brake quiet or similar when the brakes were installed, hence the noice. BMW deems rotors to be a one time use item, so I install new pads and rotors together. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-16-2021, 11:07 AM	#4
mainbearing Lieutenant Colonel 1085 Rep 1,682 Posts Drives: BMW 328i Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: LA iTrader: (0)	Try changing out the rubber pin sleeves. They are not supposed to be lubed. The metal pad contact points can use a little caliper grease. I use ATE or Pagid Euro pads, they have been fine. Akebonos are supposed to be quieter? I did not want to use them because of weak bite complaints.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-16-2021, 01:32 PM	#5
sonofsun Private First Class 21 Rep 101 Posts Drives: '11 328i X-drive E90 N51 PK53 Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Not sure about resurfacing rotors. These days you can get a new rotor for relatively cheap and be sure that it's of the right spec. Not sure how many people here have had their rotors resurfaced. I replaced both my pads and rotors at the same time around 90000 miles. I used Zimmermann and Akebono.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-18-2021, 08:45 AM	#6
falconey Captain 483 Rep 681 Posts Drives: 18 f80cs, 21 f97 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: atlanta iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the opinions. I typically use the lube that comes from fcp with the pads, but it had definitely dried out. Added more and no change. Rotors are r1 concepts and are about a year and half old, but have less than 10000 miles. No real hard driving either, but I think they are warped. I would say it's the pad, but the noise isn't consistent through the rotation of the wheel. The noise comes and goes in a pattern as the wheel rotates.
	Appreciate 0 Quote