Squealing nearside front disc - help before I pull it apart!

[Gütterßnipe]

Hi There,

I've got a 71 Westy and yesterday after two 75mile trips, leaving motorway at the end of the sliproad there were NO problems or noises when braking but then the very next time I had to brake after increasing my speed to 40mph then slowing down to stop, the nearside front disc made a horrible squealing noise just on this occasion which was a bit scarey as I've only had the bus for 8 weeks, then afterwards the noise had gone again....
On my return trip exactly the same happened.......slowing down from 65mph to 30.....
NO SQUEALING NOISES.......next time the brakes applied......horrible Squealing noise.....
Braking after that........back to no noises.
The Bus has done a 200 mile trip before when I ititially brought it home without no probs
and Its done several local trips on motorways.
.....ANY HELP APPRECIATED!!!!!.....

SPENCE!

 

[ronmidg]

The squealing is something rubbing the disc, could be a pad wearing thin or a piston a bit sticky, could be a stone like a bit of gravel. Simple checks before a full strip down check the locating pins, check how much pad there is left, and with a big screwdriver between the pad and disc push a piston back a couple of mm then stand on the pedal hard, do this a couple of times on each piston, then test.

 

[Gütterßnipe]

Hi there,

thanks for the advice,
I'll get it up this weekend and have a poke around before anything else.
The discs look a little scored, could this be due to knackered pads
or general need of replacement.

thanks

Spence

 

[ronmidg]

if the scoring is new and wasnt there when you looked before then probably down to the pads as you say

 

[Trikky2]

Assuming the calipers are not sticking and the pads have enough lining left :-

Are the anti squeal plates between the caliper pistons and the back of the pads in place?

If they are, are they the right way round and are the sprigny tags still sticking out or have they been flattened (in which case carfully bend them back up a bit)

If all that checks out correct you could put a smear of copperslip or equivalent on the back of the pads.

 

[VWAIRCOOLED]

Sounds like the brake pads could be glazing over with heat,check everything is as it should be everything present and free moving.Then buy a new good quality set of brake pads,cheap ones have a tendency to squeal when hot.

 

[Gütterßnipe]

Cheers for that!

I'm going over the bus replacing all cheap bits, My rear alternator pulley shagged up at the weekend as well.
Ordered loads a new bits from heritage.
I suppose this is what happens when you pick up an import?