Do the brakes on an '03 M45 chirp
Do the brakes on an '03 M45 chirp
when they need to be replaced, the way some other cars do? I just noticed in the last 2-3 days that my wheels at low speeds chirp or squeak and when I apply the brakes, it goes away. I think Honda for years had it where the brakes would chirp when they got to where they needed to be replaced and didn't know if my car had something similar.
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Andrew224
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Re: Do the brakes on an '03 M45 chirp (golfrbob2)
Yes, your pads have sqealers on them.
I'm replacing the front brakes on my '03 M45 right now.
The stock pads have sqealers on all 4 pads. It's a piece of metal that sticks a fraction of an inch past the base of the pad. Normally, the pad is much taller than this piece of metal. As the pads get worn down, eventually, this piece of metal sticks ever so slightly above the pad and makes contact with the rotor. That metal on metal sound is the "chirp" you speak of. So in short, it's time for new brake pads.
Also, it seems that hearing from this forum, this is common... The rotors tend to warp easily. I have 29,000 miles on my M45 and the rotors are shot. They have never been cut before and when I took them in to get cut, I was told they are below the throw-away tolerances. Basically, plan on having to replace the rotors when you replace the pads.
Hope this helps,
Andrew
I'm replacing the front brakes on my '03 M45 right now.
The stock pads have sqealers on all 4 pads. It's a piece of metal that sticks a fraction of an inch past the base of the pad. Normally, the pad is much taller than this piece of metal. As the pads get worn down, eventually, this piece of metal sticks ever so slightly above the pad and makes contact with the rotor. That metal on metal sound is the "chirp" you speak of. So in short, it's time for new brake pads.
Also, it seems that hearing from this forum, this is common... The rotors tend to warp easily. I have 29,000 miles on my M45 and the rotors are shot. They have never been cut before and when I took them in to get cut, I was told they are below the throw-away tolerances. Basically, plan on having to replace the rotors when you replace the pads.
Hope this helps,
Andrew
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szh
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Re: Do the brakes on an '03 M45 chirp (Andrew224)
Andrew,
29k miles is way too low for rotor replacement - but if the width is truly that low below spec, then you need to get it done! Mine are now at over 53k miles and I have only had them turned once when the pads were last replaced. Normally, the OEM rotors tend to last between 2 to 3 pad changes ... given that my pads now seem to last quite a long time, I think that 2 pad changes will be the norm for me. I will check at the 60k mark soon enough.
Also, quite often, people mistake vibration as due to warped rotors and/or get talked into it at the dealers. Far more often (not always though), the issue is wheel or tire imbalance. Before cutting or replacing rotors due to "warping", I strongly recommend a good tire re-balance session (assuming that your tires are good ones!) on top-notch balancing equipment. Can make a world of a difference!
Finally, after you replace pads (and rotors), they MUST BE BROKEN IN CAREFULLY! This process - basically 10 hard slow-downs (don't come to a full stop! that causes the hot pads to sit on hot disks at one spot and spots the rotors) in a row from highway speeds - is needed to properly and evenly coat the rotor with pad material. After heating the pads in this way, drive some more miles - no braking - to cool the rotors and pads down before then driving normally.
Good brake technicians (a few at Frontier Infiniti in San Jose do it right!) know to get this done after the work.
Z
29k miles is way too low for rotor replacement - but if the width is truly that low below spec, then you need to get it done! Mine are now at over 53k miles and I have only had them turned once when the pads were last replaced. Normally, the OEM rotors tend to last between 2 to 3 pad changes ... given that my pads now seem to last quite a long time, I think that 2 pad changes will be the norm for me. I will check at the 60k mark soon enough.
Also, quite often, people mistake vibration as due to warped rotors and/or get talked into it at the dealers. Far more often (not always though), the issue is wheel or tire imbalance. Before cutting or replacing rotors due to "warping", I strongly recommend a good tire re-balance session (assuming that your tires are good ones!) on top-notch balancing equipment. Can make a world of a difference!
Finally, after you replace pads (and rotors), they MUST BE BROKEN IN CAREFULLY! This process - basically 10 hard slow-downs (don't come to a full stop! that causes the hot pads to sit on hot disks at one spot and spots the rotors) in a row from highway speeds - is needed to properly and evenly coat the rotor with pad material. After heating the pads in this way, drive some more miles - no braking - to cool the rotors and pads down before then driving normally.
Good brake technicians (a few at Frontier Infiniti in San Jose do it right!) know to get this done after the work.
Z