Squeaky Brakes

[E Booth]

What makes car brakes squeak, especially those on my brand new Subaru Impreza WRX ?

[toolman]

If it's a brand new car.... take it back to the Dealer !! Brakes normally squeall in dry weather because of dust on or around the pads or the caliper (the unit that presses the brake pads onto the disc) is sticking. If you want to solve it, you need to clean the brakes out and apply a very small amount of copperslip to the BACK of the brake pads, to stop them moving. hope this helps...

[Farrukh]

Definately build up of brake dust. you can either take the wheels off, and clean the brake disk with a cloth etc, or try to blow the dust off using a forecourt air line. Either way try not to breathe in too much of the dust - it will be asbestos free, but still it is dust. Alternatively, find an open area (car parks are best). Stick the car in reverse, drive backwards and apply the brake GENTLY with your left foot, remember GENTLY. Run the car like this for a while and this should clear the dust from between the pads and disk

[honkytonkman]

I have something similar on my car - a sound like a mouse in my rear brakes. Apparently according to my Toyota dealer, it's because pads are made of harder materials these days, to avoid using asbestos. After a service and having the brake dust removed, they still do it... If it's a really nasty squeal that makes pedestrians turn round in horror, then you probably need a smear of coppergrease on the back of the brake pads.