Squeal little puggy, squeal!

May 7, 2010 6:32 AM

The brakes on our new (to us) Pug are squealing. Any suggestions?

We've got a 04 Peugeot 407 diesel which squeals when coming to a stop gently - if I brake harder it's fine, but I don't drive like that.

I'm fairly sure that they didn't squeal when we bought it a few months back, but I couldn't swear to it.

Is it anything to worry about or complain to the dealer about? Or is it just 'one of those things' as some sites seem to imply?

And, if they do need changing, should I just buy standard Pug parts, or go for discs/pads from a specialist brake manufacturer?

posted by sodium lights the horizon to Travel & Transportation (11 answers total)

Perfectly normal, nothing to worry about. When your brakes start making horrible grinding noises, then it's time to get them replaced.
posted by puritycontrol at 6:41 AM on May 7, 2010

Puritycontrol is very wrong. Squealing typically means your brake pads are coming to the end of their life. You should replace them soon. If you feel any grinding, then that means you've waited too long and are damaging parts and your brakes may fail.

Go to your dealer or local shop to get the pads checked out.

More info.
posted by cp7 at 7:39 AM on May 7, 2010 [2 favorites]

Yeah, it's time to replace your break pads.
posted by 6550 at 8:39 AM on May 7, 2010

Are they original? If so, they're probably at the end of their life. However, squealing does not necessarily mean the pads are dying. They may very well be lightly glazed. A few really hard stops can often help clear up squealing.
posted by pjaust at 9:31 AM on May 7, 2010

Some cars do that for the first few stops when the brakes are cold, no matter how new they are.
posted by rfs at 9:51 AM on May 7, 2010

Puritycontrol is very wrong. Squealing typically means your brake pads are coming to the end of their life.

Not true at all, if they also don't grind and/or squeal when applied more firmly, it is much less likely to be the pads wearing out.

I'd get them looked at (just a rebuild/Strip and clean may remove the squeak) but this is by no means a definite sign of something wrong. A light, high pitched squeal on light brake applications can often mean nothing at all - does a few good, hard stops stop the squeaking for a while? If so, it's nothing to worry about at all.
posted by Brockles at 11:04 AM on May 7, 2010

Yeah, brake pads squeal at the end of their life because they build a piece of metal into the pad which is exposed as the pad wears down, and squeals when it comes in contact with the spinning rotor. It's intended to serve as a warning sign that it's time to replace your brake pads -- waiting until it starts grinding is a bad idea, and can cause permanent damage that will be more expensive to fix. But if this is what's causing the noise, it ought to squeal no matter how hard you're braking, so I suspect something else is going on here.

There are all sorts of other things that can cause brake squeal -- I suggest you take it to the shop.
posted by magnificent frigatebird at 11:17 AM on May 7, 2010

I've owned a 306, 3 406s and I currently own a 307 and a 407. I had brake squealing on the 306 and 2 of the 406s. Currently squeak-free on the 307 and 407, but that can change!

It is very common for Peugeot brakes to squeal, in just the manner you've described. While I would fully expect there to be nothing wrong, you might want to take the car to a mechanic for a quick look to dispel any worries.

As a fellow diesel 407 owner, a couple of notes that may be of use:

• If your fans aren't pushing much air out, check the pollen filter. This is located in the passenger footwell right at the back of where the centre console is. Remove the plastic clip-in cover, then pull the filter out and vacuum between the folds. Replace and enjoy considerably better air conditioning/heating for no extra cost. You now know how to replace the pollen filter yourself too - saving you about £30 on having a dealer do the job.
• The diesels are fitted with a dual-mass flywheel clutch and in 1st or 2nd can judder quite a bit. Don't worry - this is (unfortunately) normal.
• If you feel brave enough, buy some JASC FC and ISO GD approved 2-stroke oil and put a capful in with your diesel when you fill up. This really smoothed out the engine for me (I've got the 2.2 136bhp HDI). This will also help keep things like your EGR valve clean, a bit of a weak point on these cars. Doesn't slow down how much EOLYS fluid you use sadly.
• Another notorious 407 problem that can be fairly easily checked for - lower ball joint wear. Turn the steering wheel to full lock each way and listen for a clunk. Hopefully you won't hear this, but if you do, have your mechanic check the ball joints.
• Finally, an excellent resource for your car, the 407 Owners Forum. Not affiliated in any way - just a happy member.

Happy motoring, the 407 is a great drive. The less said about the 307, the better...
posted by NordyneDefenceDynamics at 12:04 PM on May 7, 2010

Our 307 used to squeal all the time. Every time we'd put it in for service we'd ask them to check the brakes. They were always fine.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 1:07 AM on May 8, 2010

If the car has the kind of wheels that allow you to look at the brake calipers, why not just inspect them yourself? Inspect the brake pads and check that there is adequate remaining pad material—there should be enough that the carrier plate isn't making contact with the rotors. You should be able to feel with your fingers. You can also inspect the rotors while you're in there. You should be able to feel a lip at the outer edge of them—it shouldn't be too much of one.
posted by luckypozzo at 6:54 AM on May 8, 2010

Buy a higher quality brake pad if it is available. Some cheaper brake pads squeal. Higher quality ones don't.
posted by Muirwylde at 6:36 PM on May 9, 2010