So I drive home from work today 30+ miles...no problems. I stop at Costco, come back out, and as soon as I get back on the road, my front right wheel is making a HORRIBLE squealing noise above ~35mph.

I get home and pull off the wheel. The outer edge of the rotor looks like it has been polished clean (about 1/8th of an inch). I figure that something got caught in there and is making that squeal.

Loosen the caliper, rotate it up, blow it out with compressed air (no brake cleaner handy), put it all back together. Squeak is still there, but after I drive around a bit more, the squeak goes completely away. I'm thinking great...whatever it was came out.

Then the next time I stop/start, the squealing is back but at lower speeds (20-25mph). It's loud and very annoying. It does NOT appear to go away when I hit the brakes...only stops when I go below that speed.

What could be going on here? I have 26k mi. with a lot of highway but I do drive hard on occasion. Time for new pads? (it really didn't look like it) Something caught in there working it's way through?

blahhhhhh :banana:

 

do the brake pads have the low pad indicators?

 

They are the stock pads...I assume so. It looked like there was quite a bit of material between the rotor and the backing plate (at _least_ 4mm)

 

might just be your indicators, prolly time for new pads.

 

Would they make that damn noise when I'm NOT on the brakes?

 

yes, thats what the indicatiors do

 

yeah, since now the pads are worn PAST the indicators, they will make contact with the rotor even when you let off on the brake...

 

rat bastard pads. lol

Thanks guys for the fast answers. Is there anyway I can see the indicators? This noise is facking LOUD. Doesn't really seem like the standard squeaky brake noise I often hear.

What are good replacements for the stock pads?

 

they should be metal things that extend on the pads.

kinda hard to explain.

here:

 

Doing more reading...

Well...like I said the "polished" looking area is on the OUTSIDE of the rotor...but the FSM says that the indicator is on the inner pad...so I don't know if it's the indicators.

 

on my toyota truck, both sides have it.

havent taken the on off the STi apart yet...

 

^^

 

Axxis Ultimates are the best pads ever made for street/semi track.

-Gagan

 

Scott's prolly right. my car was making the same noises until he fixed em. s^2 got me some dialed pads for my 'o3 rex.