Chevy & GMC Vans

I did the front brakes a while back when I did the front end rebuild. I used Raybestos Nascar Advantage pads, and now they are one occasion squealing when braking, not always, but much of the time. Any suggestions on what I can do to deal with this short of replacing the pads with something else?

i just did brakes on my 2000 monday night.

did you clamp the outboard brake pad to the caliper? that may or may not be a contributing factor. i've enclosed a sample photo of a rwd brake pad. see the folded back ears on the top of the brake pad? those are what need to be clamped down. i've always seen them clamped with a big pair of slip joint pliers (channel locks or the like)

i forgot to do this to my van. this is okay, as i've got to tear back into the front end thursday night to install idler arms. i'll clamp mine then.

the only other thing, is everything nice and clean? dirty brake hardware can cause all kinds of issues.

As posted....clamping the outboard pad to the caliper is the ticket. It has to be really tight. Even to the point of having to use a hammer to put it in. A little anti squeal compound doesn't hurt either.

Pics would be much appreciated, but I will check since I have everything open right now. There was no mention of that in any of the instructions I read, and I read a couple, so it is likely I did not do that. Yes, everything is clean as far as I can tell.

I am assuming the clips on the outside pads are the things I drew the circle around on this pic:


My question is how are they clipped on? If it is a big pair of channel lock pliers that are used (assuming that is the tool I would use) where is the plier placed and how do you squeeze these clips? How big a pair of channel lock pliers would I need? Is the an actual tool that does this? Does the calliper have to come off to do this? Or am I completely on the wrong track?

The circled tabs are the ones you need to squeeze. Yes, the calipers have to be removed. It can only be done when the pad is removed from the caliper. I sit the pad on a hard surface (vise) and strike the tab with a hammer. Don't get too crazy with the hammer. A little at a time until you have to tap the pad back in the caliper. It should fit very tight. The tight fit is what keeps the pad from vibrating and making that squealing noise.

i'm going to try and clamp mine down with the calipers still on the van. i'll let you know how it goes.

Ok Robert, I am looking forward to hearing how that work. I will have to get to it this week during the couple of days we are home.

So Robert have you tried yet, and what were the results? Now that I am back from vacation I want to get rid of this annoying noise.

Ya you should try some anti squeal lube on the backs of the pads. I have some cheap pads on that were squealing all the time. I put some of that anti squeal on and it stopped the squealing completely! i was amazed! i used this stuff by permatex: http://www.permatex.com/products/Automo ... _Quiet.htm

Did you machine your rotors..? The uneven brake brake rotor surface will always create brake noise. I work on Mercedes and BMW Inports. Brake noise is un-acceptable to our customers.

Do not cheap-out, by using crap Autozone brake pads, and NOT machining / or replacing your brake rotors.

If you got the raysbestos pads, they should have come with some stick on paper looking pads, these pads stop these pads stop that iritating squeel, thats why I only buy raysbesto pads for my Van, htere the only ones that never squeeled, but you have to put those paper looking things on the back of the pads. Good luck.

safarirod wrote:If you got the raysbestos pads, they should have come with some stick on paper looking pads, these pads stop these pads stop that iritating squeel, thats why I only buy raysbesto pads for my Van, htere the only ones that never squeeled, but you have to put those paper looking things on the back of the pads. Good luck.

They are raybestos but I don't remember any "paper looking things" on the back of the pads. Oh well.

They should have been in the box, seperate from the brake pads, if not I would go down to were you bought them, and have them pull them out of another box. I have to drive 60 miles to get raysbestos brakes, and they have always come with the silencer pads, outside of longevity, thats why I went to the raysbetos brand. Good luck.

To the best of my knowledge they were not there, but since it is 4 months or so since doing the brakes I can't say for sure. I decided to pick up some of the stuff you put on the back of the pads to stop squealing. I am hoping I get some time today to put it on, but I have a lot of other work to do as well.