My new ‘98 Legacy’s breaks are squeeeeeeaky. I’ve had the car since May and noticed shortly after I got the car a small squeak (at the first breaking of the day) that gradually grew to very squeaky (squeaking at every stop) with almost a metal on metal sound when breaking for the first time in the mornings (This goes away pretty quick as I drive and break). I find the squeaking is most noticable when breaking lightly, and just before stoping, but when I press harder it goes away. I had all four tires removed and looked at the breaks and they only have about 20% wear on them….so the pads are a-ok. Is this normal? Are some breaks just more squeaking than others?:-\ Rotors look great too.

 

 

Thanks!

Urban Coyote

Cheap brakes squeek, or at least in my experience. You can get some paste you put on the pads to cut down on noise. When you do replace the pads, i'd go with Subaru Pads. Price is good, and they are good pads.

Cheap brakes squeek, or at least in my experience.

 

AMEN to that... I put on some cheapy, Lifetime brake pads and they squeeled and squeeked all the time... No matter which vehicle I put them on. I too invested in a can of Disk Brake squeal reducing "paint" and it really didn't help much.

 

The NAPA pads (both their AE and Ceramix) had stick on shims included, not a whisper out of them. Same too with the OEM Pads...

 

I guess, like everything else, you only get what you paid for...

Bottom line: Cheapos squeak.

 

They could need cleaned, but my guess is they are cheapo brake pads.

I use NAPA pads, they work wonders, and are a pretty good price too.

but somehow i managed to wear down my rear shoes... maybe too much e-brake in the winter

Thanks everyone! I'm a little surprised as the car has been maintained by the local Subaru dealership throughout it's lifetime. Is it typical of them to use cheap parts like that when doing a break job?

 

I'll put some better pads on the next time round and hope my squeaky breaks will be a thing of the past.

 

Cheers,

Urban Coyote