Alternative Break Pads

[Big Ry]

I know this subject has been done to death a hundred times now, however due to the fking break squeal from my SP10 i'm now asking if anyone out there has used non-OEM pads and as a result has stopped the squeal ?

Works carried out a complete break strip and clean two weeks ago which appeared to sort it, but after 600 miles the squeal is back just as before.

Now before anyone starts telling me to drive/brake "spiritedly" and complete the Pagid process, i've done this and to be honest it makes no difference. Also, I think it's ridiculous to have to do this after 600 miles after a complete clean down.

I'm not willing to accept that this is what performance cars do as that's not the case. A friend has a 991 Turbo S, that's about as performance as any road car gets yet it's as silent as the grave, as are colleagues AMG's. I won't say it's just Astons as it's obviously not, but they clearly seem to suffer worse than most.

I'm at the point that unless I can seriously reduce or stop it the car will be going. That will be a huge shame as I love then thing, but I don't like sounding like a bus at every junction or traffic light, it's ridiculous.

So is there anyone out there who can recommend (with experience) an alternative (or squeal solution) ?

Thanks all

[Big Ry]

simonpa said:

Whilst this sort of thing may help with squeal, I would think that if you ever had an accident and the powers that be found out you had applied any thing that 'infused into the pad surface', then all support would be off.

I here you, that's why I'd rather have a totally alternative pad.

I'm serious though that if I can't stop this I'll be walking away from my second Aston in 18 months, and this time very much doubt I'd ever return.....which would really be a shame. Some people can't see why i'm so het up over it, but as a DD this just isn't acceptable.

The likes or Mercedes and Porsche etc would never ever say that this sort of thing is 'normal' which is what Works have told me.

[Big Ry]

BravoV8V said:

Porterfield R4-S pads worked well on my old V8V. I can't remember them squealing.


Incidentally, did Works apply the blue anti-squeal goo to the back of the pads?

I asked whether Works applied the copper grease stuff (you can tell I clearly know about this stuff), and they said they don't use that anymore as it's been replaced by something similar (which they did use). I will mail Works now and ask though.

Forgive my ignorance here, but I assume it is the pad which is the culprit and nothing to do with the discs ?

[Big Ry]

blueg33 said:

Really sorry, but it's Brake pad

a break pad is probably a cushion

(I try not to be a spelling Nazi because my typing is rusbbish, but the break thing really gets to me)

You're indeed right, but once I realised I'd done it other people had started to respond to the thread and I'm not sure that you can change a thread name.

I consider myself suitably chastised though

[Big Ry]

matrignano said:

I've recently tried EBC Yellows and they are crap.

Used to have the standard Pagid RS4s and, if a lot of copper grease was applied on the back of them, they were fine on the squealing front.
Much better than the EBCs

It just seems crazy that there isn't a firm solution for this issue.......it's hardly an uncommon one.

I really don't understand this stuff (as I'm sure you've all worked out by now ). Does the squeal come from the friction between the pad surface and the disk, or is it caused by vibration at the back of the pad (or similar) ? I keep reading points made about both (like applying copper grease to the back) so i'm a bit unsure.

[Big Ry]

Ken Figenus said:

This is such a shame - a mate has this issue too and is tearing his hair out with it and angry at being fobbed off by the dealer and all the hassle involved with taking the car in time after time.

Its not normal and its not acceptable and AM should empower the dealers to sort the 'bus brakes' out. Bloody ridiculous when spending three figures on a car with absolutely conventional brakes.

I checked with Works as to exactly what they did and they've said that they stripped all four corners, cleaned everything and applied Tunap. Works have stated that it shouldn't be doing it so if they need to revisit it they will. I'm going to monitor it for another couple of weeks and see how we go as I don't want to look like a moaning git for no reason. I love the car but as we all know it doesn't take much to fall out of love either, I just really hope this can be fixed before then.

[Big Ry]

V8V Pete said:

This is surely a clue to the problem. I say this because some owners seems to have the problem and find it very hard to resolve whereas others have never had it. Personally, I've have had my MY2009 V8V for nearly 2 years and 10,000 miles and never had any squealing. Presumably "corroded / sticky pistons" would be more likely in low mileage occasional use cars and those that have been stood unused at a dealers for a while. Do either of these scenarios apply to your car Big Ry?

Unfortunately not, it's a daily driver (although not too many miles), it's only 11 months old (I've had it 2 months) and as far as I know it was a DD for the original owner too (5500 in 6 months). The way I see it is this isn't acceptable (and most on here tend to agree), therefore I'll give it another couple of weeks to see if it goes away, but if not it'll go back to Works (as many times as needed) and they can sort it under warranty.

I'm lucky as I live 5 miles from AM Works, so it's not a huge headache for me to take it down there. Just really want it sorted as it'll grind on me until I really get the hump one fine morning and chop it in (which is definitely not what I want).

[Big Ry]

Slight topic creep, but do V12 or DBS brakes (carbon) suffer from this too or are they silent ?