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Recently my brakes have become a bit squeaky, whilst annoying they seem to be preforming fine.
But over the last couple of days I get an intermittent squeaking whilst driving, seems to be coming from the wheel area. So today I jacked the car up and when rotating the wheels they grid a bit, like when you've been on a wet muddy ride, is this normal?
There's plenty of pad life left and there doesn't appear to be any play in the wheel bearings, I guess there could be a sticky piston? but anything else to check?
may be bits of rust in and around caliper pads etc try taking pads out and removing any rust from around area of move parts
First up, most car brakes rub a little. Grinding isn't the word I'd use for the sound they make though.
Any car I've ever worked on has a floating caliper. If these bushings seize uneven brake pad wear can occur along with an increase in brake drag and a reduction in performance. To check this properly involves removing the caliper. Other than that, a visual inspection should show the both pads are wearing evenly. If not, you've probably got the aforementioned problem.
I've never had a sticking piston. Maybe my cars are too new though.
Ta, the car is getting on a bit 1999, 120k Volvo V40. I'll check for rust...
A 120k Volvo, just run in then (I've got a '04 V40) 🙂
argh... can't find the locknut key 😥
Cant help you with the locknut key, but I have had sticking pistons in the past. Resulted in heavily biased pad wear, but no squeaking to speak of.
The stickiness came about as a result of the pistons having to be extended further and further as the pad wore out. The chrome on the piston then wore off meaning it would not retract back into the caliper. I tried everything to file them back down, pressing them back in with clamps etc, but to no joy. In the end I had to buy new pistons and then rebuild the calipers with new seals etc, before finally havign to bleed the whole system. Not a difficult job, just pretty time consuming!
Hope you sort it.
does the squeaking go away when you put the brakes on? if not, it might not be the brakes?