I read in a previous thread about this "brake stop squeak" stuff. Where do you put it?? The back of the pad. Ok, all there is is a flimsy metal backing that's attached by the clip. Now the pad is bonded to a heavy metal backing but there's no way you can separate those to smear some of that goo on. I have this terribly embarrasing squeaking noise eminating from the fronts. I took them both off, cleaned and freshly lubricated the sliders, the whole shebang. Plenty of pad left. They start squeaking once they warm up and you don't apply presure. When I'm using the brakes, they shut right up, when I'm just crusing they squeak like crazy. Do I need NEW sliders? One place told me the only option was new calipers. I find that dissapointing.

You're dragging the pads. sounds like caliper rebuild time to me make sure all the pad retainer clips are Very tight first. It's OK to bend the clips a little if need be.

You've already looked at most of the rest. Don't let this go or you'll end up with warped rotors if they aren't getting that way from the heat already. Rebuilding front calipers isn't hard or very expensive.

What keeps the outer pads ('88 Grand Am/Beretta) attached to the caliper? There are just 2 tabs that go in 2 holes (I guess so the pad doesn't fall out). Will the pad grease stuff act like glue???

Carbon-metallic brake pads are known to be a bit noisy...Are you guys using those?

Tips For Brake Pads!

1) Use a file to cut a small 45 degree angle on the 'leading' edge of pad. (direction of forward rotation) This reduces squeal during break-in period.
2) Lube the contact area on both inner and outer pad where they touch the caliper. (back side, along with slider pins and rails on mount)
3) Remember to 'lock in place' the outer pad by using a hammer on the tangs on the outside of caliper where they protude to the out side of caliper (Visible when installed) This reduces pad 'drag', chatter and squeal.

So I have to beat my outer pads with a hammer? Are you 100% sure about this? I've never heard of anyone doing this before.

Don't forget to clean the rust off the rotors . If you're using new ones, clean the coating off with the proper cleaner.

Monkeyman,

You use the hammer on the tangs that poke through the caliper just enough to prevent them from moving up and down, back and forth!
A couple of taps gets that done! You do this after mounting them and pump the pedal a couple of times to move the piston out for contact with the rotor, (good pedal) stick a screw driver between the hub and the bottom of the brake pad and push the screw driver down to move the pad up to the bottom of the caliper then rap on the tangs (down toward the center of hub)sticking out of the holes near the top of caliper. This locks the pads in place.

[This message has been edited by Indiana_resto_guy (edited 08-09-2000).]

When I was doing my brakes, turned out to be a bad hose, I did decide to beat a caliper with a concrete floor (before swapping it out of course) I had managed to cook it.