I got a really good deal on a set of front TRD brake pads.

I installed them about a week ago and I notice the [slight] increased stopping ability.

Everything was fine the first couple of days but then the brakes starting squeaking.

They squeak only when I apply slight pressure to the pedal. They don't squeak when I apply a lot of pressure. I think it has something to do with the rotor...

What did I do wrong? Or is there a step I missed?

 

nothing.. brakes do squeak...as long its not a rough grinding or squeal, your ok..they have that grease that advance auto and some other places sell to help with the normal squeaks...just give it a while see what happens...it may just take a bit of time for the rotors to wear to the pads and vice-versa..

 

break in the pads for a few hundred miles (not all miles of stopping obviously). just drive normally and stop normally for a few hundred miles and it may get better. but "race" brake pads do tend to squeak...

 

Add more shim grease between the pad and the shim.

 

Thanks for the replies.

On another note. I usually inflate my tires to about 37-40PSI all around. I know it says in the door frame that less PSI is optimal for the car. My question is: why?

Am I causing problem by adding more air than recommended? Is there any neg or post effects?

I don't mean to change the subject. I'm just curious.

 

if you put new rotors and pads on ...did you brake clean the rotors to get off the adhesive they use on the rotors so they dont rust on the shelves ....and also ....as long as you did not heavy brake the first 100 miles and you cleaned the rotors with brake clean .... you should have no problems

 

My car has been having similar problems but when i brake gently to a slow stop it's like a clank noise it sounds like if metal is his hitting metal. I've taken it the dealer three times and they can't seem to figure out the issue. Does anyone know or have a idea of what i should do and check?

 

More tire pressure will wear tires unevenly . It will wear out the centers more and rough ride

 

1. your brakes may be squeaking because they were not heat cycled after you installed them. after i had powerslot rotors and axxis ultimate pads installed, i tried to heat cycle them...and failed, and they sqeaked for months then i got the stoptech stage 2 kit, which comes with axxis ultimate pads as well, but this time i had them installed by my toyota dealership, and the mechanic who did it, also took my car out and heat cycled them properly, and they have been just as quiet as my car was with the stock brake pads. so heat cycling is critical to reducing brake squealing.

2. having more air in your tires is okay, but too much air can be bad. increasing air pressure 5 psi over manufacturer suggested psi can get you better gas mileage for instance. but that is because the tire has a smaller contact patch and less roll resistance, which also means...LESS TRACTION, so acceleration, braking and handling can be reduced because of this decrease in traction. also, if you OVER inflat them too much, they can have a blow out if they get too hot, as well as wear unevently.

me personally, i've found that i like having about 35 psi in all my tires, and air them down when i autocross for more traction.

 

i bought the trd brake pads and am having the same squeaking problem
how do you heat cycle the brake pads?
is that the same as bedding?
i tried bedding them and the brakes seemed fine for the first week now they squeak all the time and its been over two months now
maybe i didnt bed them in right?

 

Did anyone 'turn' their rotors before putting on the new pads and did any on you follow TRD's bedding-in procedures?

Ken

 

I didnt turn my rotors but i did follow the bedding in procedure i got off your website. Is it to late to turn my rotors? Its been a few months now.

 

Usually, there are grooves on the rotors and you would normally turn them when you change the pads so you don't get the noise, but once you've run the new pads on unturned rotors, you will have the marks on the pads and it's too late to fix. I would turn my rotors the next time you change the pads and that will help a lot.

Ken

 

Ken,

I neither turn nor bedded my pads when I installed them. Is that normal for all cars or just the tC because I wasn't aware.

What are my options at this point? Should I go ahead a purchase new rotors and/or pads?

 

no don't buy new rotors or pads! Have you even tried the anti-noise grease for the backs of the shims/pads? Toyota has anti noise lube kit available just for this. the pad is actually slightly moving inside the caliper causing this noise. Couple of tC's so far I've seen need this. Please try that grease before you waste your money on anything else.

It's ALWAYS the most simple problem to cause the most COMPLEX issue. Try the anti noise lube first.

 

I could try that. It would definitely be a good alternative.

Would I have to order that lubrication from the Toyota dealership?
Or is any brake lubrication from AutoZone ok?

 

ken at trdsparks might be able to get you a part number for the brake grease/lube kit.. just that my dealer used the toyota stuff (of course, being a toyota dealer). but yeah any anti noise compound would be fine, i would think.

EDIT UPDATE: SEE MY POST ON PAGE 2 OF THIS THREAD. MY thoughts/experiences have changed using Toyota's grease for higher performance pads (higher temperatures generated).

 

I was wondering if the squeaking problem with the pads went away with you guys? I recently installed mine and they started squealing under moderate braking. Other than that, they're a welcome improvement over my 4 year old worn out OEMs.

 

i found that greasing the backside of the pads helps.. but it didnt get rid of all the squealing. I ended up putting a light coating of hi-temp brake grease (goes to 2800 degrees! wow.. ceramic solid brake grease from permatex) on the top of the pad and a little on the lip of the brake caliper piston. NO MORE SQUEAL! try it.. that could help a lot!

 

Would they have that grease at autozone or napa? The grease would go between the shim and the pad or against the shim and the caliper? I'll definitely try this over the weekend!