Date:         Wed, 13 Oct 1999 00:54:47 -0400
Reply-To:     John <johnpatt@WARWICK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John <johnpatt@WARWICK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Why do my brakes squeak?
Comments: To: Suzanne Hackett <yetilvft@EARTHLINK.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Suzanne Hackett wrote:
>
> Why do the brakes on my 1990 Vanagon Carat squeak so horribly, even
> after I've just had them redone?  They sound like alternately like
> wheezing old men and shrieking squirrels, and then sometimes they are
> quiet.
>
> I hate these brakes, and that's the only thing I hate about my otherwise
> beloved "Geordi" (as in La Forge).
>
> I live in L.A....could that be it?
>
> Seriously, I'm clueless about this one.
>
> Suzanne

Hi Suzanne,

Were the rotors resurfaced or replaced and were high quality brake pads
installed.

If the rotor surface has a wear pattern from the old pads, the "vocal
cord" effect will occur until the new pads wear in & match the existing
rotor surface. That may take several thousand miles.

There are "bargain" brake pads available that are cheap junk and will
squeal forever...............

>From your comments it sounds like the brake squeal was there before the
brake pads were replaced. There are other measures but I would check the
brake rotor surface first.

Good luck,      JP