Hello,

One thing I have noticed with my 2005 VDP is that the front brakes loudly squeal when stopping at traffic lights. I thought this might mean new brake pads were in order, so I took it to the local Jaguar dealer. They examinied it and said the pads are good - over 80% life left and they look practically new.

I said test drive it and report. They did and agree it squeals, but say that is normal when the car hasn't been driven for 2 or more days. They say it is brake dust that causes this. They cleaned away the brake dust. This achieved nothing as it still squeals.

I found that after about 40 stops at lights, the squeal eventually gets better and virtually stops. However, most city drives I do are less than 40 lights and the squeal is so loud people turn their heads to look. The sound insulation on the car is good, but if I roll down the window I am treated to the high pitch squeal that is startling pedestrians, some of whom yell "Get your brakes fixed!". I took it to an indy garage and they said brakes are working.

Is there an aftermarket brake pad that I can use that is quieter than the Jaguar-supplied one. All asbestos pads? All ceramic pads? My Cadillac doesn't squeal at all and it sits the same time between drives. My Mercedes E500 had a not as bad problem once, and the Mercedes dealer said the pads might be etched from a hard braking, so even though they had not worn out, they would have to be replaced anyway if I wanted quiet braking. I did this and the E500 didn't squeal anymore. Not sure if this same issue is the root cause of the VDP's loud squealing.

Anyone have this issue? What did you do?

Thanks

 

I'm struggling with the same issue on my recently purchased XJ8. Mechanically the car is sound, and the breaks are at about 40%, which isn't great but shouldn't be enough to cause the loud squeal I experience every time I break. Mechanic told me not to worry but man am I tired of that sound.

 

Take the pads out and smear some copper grease on the backside.

Much cheaper than replacing everything and may just cure it.

 

Asbestos pads haven't been made in 20-30ish years and ceramic pads are worse than OEM pads for squealing.

Your dealer is incorrect for stating that it's got something to do with the car sitting. If you're a home mechanic, remove the pads and take a wire wheel to the friction surface then add the anti-squeal compound as noted by jimbo.

 

Ok, I will try the fix you and Jimbo are suggesting.

The Indy garage mentioned asbestos brake pads don't squeal, but to install them would require breathing mask precautions, and the job is better suited to the home mechanic. There are companies in India that still make the asbestos pads they said. Here is a quote from one supplier in Delhi:

"We manufacture a host of Asbestos Disc Brake Pads which finds requirement in various applications. Being highly resistant from corrosion & wear, durable, precise dimensions, asbestos disc brake pads are easy to use and have long trouble free life."

The anti-squeal grease sounds like a good idea - I hope that works as my other cars have modern non-asbestos pads and don't squeal like this.

 

I rotated the inside pads for the outside pads on the front of mine and added copper slip to all rubbing surfaces on the rear of the pads. I thoroughly cleaned the calipers and the exposed pistons before refitting everything and the squeal I had from the front right wheel vanished and i now know they brakes and calipers are working correctly.

It was also the chance to check the wheel bearings, lower control and upper arm bushes and clean the ABS sensors. Typically I found that both my lower control arm bushes need replacing.

 

Believe me I understand your frustration. My indie garage installed new rotors and Textar pads this year and I had the squeal, exactly as you describe. The garage suggested I wait a few weeks as the semi-metallic pads may have had a chip wearing through as the pads have bits of metal in them. I did so meanwhile spending hours trolling the Internet only to find there is no solution that works like a silver bullet. A lot of experienced mechanics spend time and $$ on trial and error, with mixed results - you've probably Googled around and noticed it's a phenomenon that strikes many brands, it's not unique to Jaguar, and lots of people offer theory and possibilities but no surefire solution. After enough was enough I took it back to the indie shop and the owner went for a drive -- shook his head 5 mins in and said "unacceptable." He put new pads on (no cost to me) and it's been quiet ever since. I sympathize, it really ruins the driving experience when you hear the squeak for months.

 

I can assure you that having asbestos pads is no assurance of eliminating a squeak. Brake noises are nothing new or the exclusive property of post-asbestos materials.

Not sure I'd want no-name 'under the table pads' anyway.

 

04 XJ8, 180K miles
Left rear brake squealed for most of last winter and this summer. Not real loud and could "play" with the pedal to minimize the noise. Did the brakes a month ago, all four corners, new pads and rotors, wire wheel on everything, anti squeal spray on the pads, grease on the sliding parts of the carrier. By the book. Guess what? After about one week on the new stuff the same left rear squeals AARGH.... You have to be kidding me. Same wheel, same squeal!!!

I'm going to swap the inner and outer pads this weekend. maybe try the anti-seize instead of the red spray...

Wish me luck.
Tom

 

It is often quite effective to simply take the car to a safe, quiet area and perform a few very agressive stops. This helps de-glaze the pads and rotors.

 

Tom,
Same problem with '05 XKR with Brembo brakes. I had replaced the rear rotors and pads a few months ago and the brakes worked great...until nearing a stop when the left rear squeals like a '70s delivery truck. It's ear-splitting.

Today I pulled off the pads, cleaned them with CRC brake cleaner. Then I applied the CRC "Disc Brake Quiet" pink gel. I covered most of the backs and the edges ("shoulder" in Jaguar service manual speak). I even baked the pads in my oven at 180 for 35 minutes (to make the pink gel firm and to get a skin).

I reassembled and went for a test drive. Brakes work GREAT until I slow to 2mph and then a wickedly loud squeal comes from that same left, rear brake.

I'll take them apart again, rough-up the friction surfaces, apply some brake assembly lube to the pins and hope for the best.

Any luck on your end?

How about any other ideas. This is making me crazy.

 

Try scuffing up your rotors with something like a 220 grit so that they are not so glossy and polished and see if that helps. And make sure all the parts that move and rub against each other are clean and lubed.

 

As mentioned this problem is as old as the hills. Over the years I think I've used all of the rememdies mentioned....usually with good results. If one doesn't work the other....or the next other....will.

One thing to check for.....but I'm not sure if it applies to your pads.

*Some* pads are manufactured with an anti-squeel material applied to the backing plate. I've seen this material crumble off. You might wanna check for this. The fix is to simply remove any remnants of the material and use an anti-squeel product or copper grease on the backing plates instead.

Cheers
DD

 

Except Akebonos Except for an occasional first-stop-in-the-morning squeel, totally silent. Plus, the car will stop on a dime and give ya two cents change





Yes.

And no.

I think the dealer is wrong in this instance but it isn't all that unusual (at least in my neck o'the woods) for brakes to be squeeky or squeely for the first couple stops in the morning. In damp environments a very light surface rust can form on the rotors. After a couple (noisy) brakes applications, though, it's all swiped clean.

Obviously not an applicable explanation in this case.

Cheers
DD

 

I took the car out and performed the break-in that others described. Progressively aggressive stops to heat them up and bed in the pads. Reduced the squeal immensely....

Tom

 

Replace the Pads with EBC red stuff and new rotors. If you want brakes to feel like new.
Take my word for it. Playing with semi worn pads and worn out rotors will give you more grieve, that of course you like playing.Good quality pads makes all the difference world. Why do you think the brake pads so expensive from Jaguar. Because they work as design. I tired NAPA Ultra pads and I returned them. Not the same.
EBC red stuff works good, no complaints after 3000 miles.

PS: Do the brake fluid flush also. do the job right.

 

Squeal is gone!

I used 220 grit paper on the disc rotors, sanding in a circular motion and then cleaned the rotors with brake cleaner. Did the same to the pads with 220 grit, sanding the pads against the paper and then cleaning.

I removed the "Disc brake quiet" goo and applied disc brake grease on back of the pads where the pistons touch. Applied grease to the shoulders and reassembled.

The squeal is entirely gone.

Mintex pads by the way.

Good advice! Thanks.

 

Awesome, glad your problem is gone!