Squealing brakes

[Lady Lozzers]

Hi guys, so I got my 2011 DS3 in August from a citroen garage and it had new brake pads fitted before I picked it up.

The issue I'm having is every time I touch my brake it squeals! The harder I press the brake, the more high pitched the squeal becomes until it finally disappears when I'm almost at a stand still. I had it checked out at a garage about a month ago and they said I haven't worn the brake pads in properly yet and I need to "brake harder".

So I've had 3 months of feeling embarrassed every time I brake in traffic (and I'm in traffic a lot) because it sounds like I'm abusing a piglet!

Has anyone else had this issue with the DS3 brakes? And has anyone been able to rectify this issue?

Thanks
Lauran

[Chris_Blue]

Hi Lauran- when you look at the brake discs, do they look groved/ scored ?

[DaveB]

The pads should be bedded in after three months! Just to make sure, try braking hard from a fairly high speed (60 mph or more) a few times.

It's possible that a pad is tight in the caliper, but that normally causes squeal under light braking which stops when you apply more pressure to the pedal.

It may be that they have fitted cheap aftermarket pads rather than genuine Citroen parts - aftermarket pads won't have been tested in every application & a formulation which may well be completely silent on one vehicle/caliper combination will squeal like a pig in another.

[Lady Lozzers]

Hi Chris; I have no idea what they look like and I wouldn't even know where to find them. I'm useless with anything to do with cars other than a adding oil/water under the bonnet and air to tyres haha!

Dave the squealing usually occurs when I'm braking lightly then disappears the harder I brake, but in traffic it's rare that I need to brake hard. (Maybe this is what the garage meant about me not wearing them down enough because I'm always in traffic so mostly braking lightly?). It's interesting what you said about cheap brake pads; do you think a citroen garage would do that?

I will try a few emergency stops when it's not too cold or damp on the ground!

[Dangerousfish]

The pads should be bedded in after three months! Just to make sure, try braking hard from a fairly high speed (60 mph or more) a few times.

It's possible that a pad is tight in the caliper, but that normally causes squeal under light braking which stops when you apply more pressure to the pedal.

It may be that they have fitted cheap aftermarket pads rather than genuine Citroen parts - aftermarket pads won't have been tested in every application & a formulation which may well be completely silent on one vehicle/caliper combination will squeal like a pig in another.

Nail on the head I reckon.

[Chris_Blue]

The brake disc is what you can see through the wheels- shouldbe shiny bright if you just used the car, or if parked up a couple days will have a watery rust appearance

Reason I ask is that if some metal is scratching the disc, it would make a groove in the disc, and a squeal. Thatd be incorrect fitting, and/ or sub standard pads. (They all make a bit of a noise for a bit, but not 3 month)

Don't try braking reeeeeallly hard, as if theres something wrong, you don't wanna problem stopping!

Go to a brake specialist for advice, if you don't wanna go back to Citroen. They give advice for free, but no doubt will suggest something you need to buy. Just don't unless it makes sense

[DaveB]

Dave the squealing usually occurs when I'm braking lightly then disappears the harder I brake, but in traffic it's rare that I need to brake hard.!

In that case it's possible that one of the pads is tight in the caliper, or possibly the caliper isn't moving as freely as it should. If a few firm brake applications doesn't cure, the first thing I'd do in those circumstances is take the pads out, check that everything's moving freely, lubricate as necessary & reassemble.

I would expect a Citroen dealer to use OE parts, but they may have decided to save a few quid by using cheaper pads. . .

[ZACK]

Chance that they didn't copper grease it up enough - happened to me

[lfcrule1972]

I'd take it back to the Citroen dealer you bought it from and ask them to take a look, explain the brakes have squealed like a stuck pig since you picked your DS3 up and as a lady driver it's scaring you..... Might as well play that card if you can

[Bigfeet]

Chance that they didn't copper grease it up enough - happened to me

Thought the same thing.

[Chris_Blue]

Is copper grease mandatory then- as have never see much evidence of it on any my cars?

[DaveB]

Is copper grease mandatory then- as have never see much evidence of it on any my cars?

I don't think you'll find many, if any, cars with copper grease used on the pads straight from the factory.

There are many different methods of reducing squeal applied in production. The best,of course,is to formulate a friction material which doesn't squeal in the first place. Chamfering the pads, using different shim materials (rubber, plastic,steel), rubber paint, etc., have all been used with success in different applications.

Personally I've never used copper grease as an anti-squeal measure, & I suspect that in many instances where it is claimed to have stopped squeal it's actually the disassembly of the brakes & freeing everything off that's really done the job.

However, "everybody knows" that copper grease on the back of pads stops brake squeal, so who am I to argue?

[pmatil]

At least in here, the dealer cleans and lubricates especially the rear brakes on every service. Maybe they are sensitive to stuck on.

[ZACK]

However, "everybody knows" that copper grease on the back of pads stops brake squeal, so who am I to argue?

Nobody had said that ?

I merely recommended it. You get the old-skool mechanics who swear by it and the newer guys saying that a product called 'Plastilube' is the better option.

Suppose there's no right or wrong answer really.