i have a 2006 xb, 36k miles on it...brakes squeel for a while now...probobly started at 25k miles...
this only happens when I have been driving for around 30 minutes straight, no stopping, then all of a suddent I stop at a stop sign or stop in traffic. Right as I am about to come to a complete stop, it squeels pretty loudly...
the pads look good up front, and I do not know how to mess with the drums in the rear, but all of this stuff is new (36k miles)...any ideas????
i do drive mostly interstate, very little stopping...also brakes seem to perform perfectly fine...i do not feel as if my brakes are not stopping me...just noisy

 

Only happens when you drive for over 30 min? How fast are you going when you start stopping? How hard are you pressing on the brakes? Do you press harder or softer when this squeel occurs... or about the same pressure throughout the stop? If you slam on the brakes and hold until you stop does it still make a squeel? If you ride your brakes does it make a squeel?

Sorry, lots of questions.

 

slow braking, I don't stop hard or fast...usually if i brake hard it won't do it as much...only really happens at the last second or 2 before a complete stop

 

Ok... sounds like you might just need some new brake pads. If the pads are old, or older, there might be some hair line cracks in them. This could be caused from hard braking or simply from driving through the rain. Any kind of fast heat change can cause this.

Try this - drive down your street at about 20 MPH, then gently ride the brakes to where the pads are barely touching. Do this for a few seconds... if there is a squeel then it's prolly that your pads are drity or cracked or your brake pad indicator (the hook type device to warn when your pads are low) is rubbing on the disc. From the problem that you have described, I am going to say that it's the pads, and not the indicator.

You said that you don't know if it's from the front or back though right? Well... start with the front, as those are easier to work with than drums. With that...

Here are a few of things that you can try, before getting new pads all together:
1 - Wash your car, making sure you hit the brakes very heavily. Try not go to the car wash after a lot of driving, as the heat from braking a lot, and then the amount of cold water *might* assist in rotor warpage (rare, but can happen).
2 - Try to lube the caliper pins and the back side of the pads. Your squeel might just be a loud vibration.
3 - While you have the brakes off, look at the indicator (just for good measure)... if it looks like it might be rubbing the disc when braking, then it's time for new pads.

If this doesn't help, then start working your way back to the rear. Same problems can occur with the shoes (cracks or just really dirty). But it's a pain to get the drums off.

Let us know if this helps at all.

 

Try option #2 if the pads are still thick. Use from disc brake quiet on the back side of the pads and the shims.