Wilwood calipers - Brake Squeal

[Mr Plow]

I've had Wilwood calipers fitted for some time now, I can't get the brakes to stop squealing. This is more apparent when they are hot.

I have tried changing pads and discs, but get the same problem within 10 miles of driving.

Anyone got any ideas?

A friend of mine also has the same set up and also suffers from the same squeal.

[one eyed mick]

Copper grease on the back of the pads is the usual cure ,just a smear between pistons and pads HTH

[Mr Plow]

Thanks for the advice.

I should have mentioned I have added shims between the pads and pistons, also covered everything I dare in copper grease.

Does anyone have any other suggestions? I'm beginning to think this is a problem with the calipers themselves.

I've tried contacting Wilwood, but still waiting for a response.

Is anyone else running wilwood calipers?

cheers

Liam

[The Black Flash]

Mr Plow said:

Thanks for the advice.

I should have mentioned I have added shims between the pads and pistons, also covered everything I dare in copper grease.

Does anyone have any other suggestions? I'm beginning to think this is a problem with the calipers themselves.

I've tried contacting Wilwood, but still waiting for a response.

Is anyone else running wilwood calipers?

cheers

Liam

Seems a fairly common problem in the Kit Car world, some people have no trouble, for others they squeal something awful.

This Link has details of one fellow's fix for it - I've done the same but haven't got mine on the road yet so don't know if it always works!

[Mr Plow]

The Black Flash said:

Seems a fairly common problem in the Kit Car world, some people have no trouble, for others they squeal something awful.

This Link has details of one fellow's fix for it - I've done the same but haven't got mine on the road yet so don't know if it always works!

Brilliant, thank you for this. I'm glad I'm not the only one, I'm definately in the "squeal something awful" category. I've tried fitting the standard wilwood pads and also some Hawk pads, but still get the same squeal. Lets hope the DS2500 do the trick.

BTW - your project looks interesting

[one eyed mick]

In addition to my earlier post are the pad friction faces "polished" if so abreade with some thing like p80 paper and try to avoid "light" braking as much as possible HTH

[The Black Flash]

Mr Plow said:

Brilliant, thank you for this. I'm glad I'm not the only one, I'm definately in the "squeal something awful" category. I've tried fitting the standard wilwood pads and also some Hawk pads, but still get the same squeal. Lets hope the DS2500 do the trick.

BTW - your project looks interesting

Cheers. Sometimes I think I've swung the balance too far from "achievable" to "interesting" but it's getting there

[mgrays]

Squeal is basically vibration. So you need to do all you can do damp it or change the resonate frequency. Flyin' Miata or Brian Goodwin fit the Wilwoods to MX-5 and they did try a spring plate which fits on the outside (i.e. under the tyre face).. seems not now!

http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda-Performance-P...

Here is someone else trying something similar; http://craigscobras.com/parts/arclip/index.htm

I drilled mine out to fit pins+wee R clips instead of split pins plus ground the backing plates to allow the pads to just drag a bit. With original split pins you could just bow the split pin a bit to add damping of pads. Alternative is changing pads or finding stainless springs that help with damping; Halfrauds used to have lots of "pad fitting kits" that had useful springs/pins in them. And last bit would be to "exercise" the pistons a bit.. i.e. put a minimal steel plate in to replicate the worn out pads, pump out pistons, lever them back, and repeat 5 times. Do the same for each piston set .. sometimes this will free things up enough so the pistons roll back more easily. Lubricate pistons with red rubber grease. (The twisting of the square seals in the body is all that retracts the pistons and hence pads.. so a bit less friction sometimes moves the resonation enough).

[Mr Plow]

Thank you for all the advice.

I think I've fixed it ......


Hope I haven't spoken too soon

Cheers

Liam