Concern on Ceramic brakes

[FredoMusicman]

(At first, sorry for my poor Eng.)

Hi folks,

I have since 6 months my DB9 from 2013 with now 24 000km/15 000mls.
Since ever, I have the famous squealing at low speed. And also a vibration in the steering when I have to brake from 90kmh/55mph on.

I have seen on the invoices from the 2 first owners these:

At 11 779km at AML (CH) an intervention to "fix noise front axle"
At 20 345km at AML (AUT) „Vibrations on the front axle 1 Z Brake discs "Balanced"

What could be the issue ?
What could be done ?

Thanks for your experiences.
Fred

[vpr]

All my ceramics squeal. I think you can do some heavy braking to illuminate it.

Vibration was standard from new on DBS IIIRC

I think the answer is to balance the wheel on the car

[SHIFTY]

There were problems on early cars with ceramic brakes with regard to vibration under braking and AM dealers balanced the ceramic discs with the wheel on the car.

I know this as when have I had new rear tyres supplied at an independent he marked the alloy position next to the brake disc to make sure that the wheel was installed in exactly the same position.

Not sure why tyre balancing would not sort this but this was an independent that I would trust, never had the vibration and my brakes only make a noise when wet, i.e. after washing the car.


Hope that you get it sorted.

Edited by SHIFTY on Saturday 29th May 13:02

[Kawasicki]

Have you had somebody with expertise check the force variation (uniformity) of the wheels? Have you changed the tyres recently?

[FredoMusicman]

Hi,
yes I changed the tyres for not long ago. It squeals at the same as before. Hard brakings sort out, but only last for 2-3 days, and than again.. But I have the feeling that it'is only one disc/wheel who squeals... not all 4.
Opposite for me, after washing she squeals less for 1-2 days..
I do not really remenber the vibrations before the tyre change. It's a good independant Mec. but not sure that he was aware to mark the wheels to put them at the same place again.. This could be the thing for the vibrations..

[Kawasicki]

I expect you gave 2 separate problems.

1) brake squeal
2) vibration

I can‘t advise on 1.

I can advise on 2... I wouldn‘t always assume the vibration is caused by weight imbalance. Very often it is caused by force variation generated by an out of round or varying stiffness of the tyre... or a combination of both.

[DB9VolanteDriver]

The issue with the CCM rotor imbalance that was common on early DBS was NOT under braking; it manifested while driving around 60-80 mph. The OP states his vibe issue is under braking, which is symptomatic of warped rotors, which I’ve not heard of for CCM rotors before.

Regarding brake squeal, not all CCM brakes do so, though it does seem to be far more prevalent than for cars with steel rotors.

[kipv12]

My db9, steel brakes squeal quite a lot, no rhyme or reason for it. Rapide with ceramic brakes not a squeak in 6 months totally silent.

Edited by kipv12 on Saturday 29th May 18:55

[Phil57DBS]

Go for Pagid RSC1 ...
Never squeal than OEM Brembo brake pads !

[8Tech]

SHIFTY said:

There were problems on early cars with ceramic brakes with regard to vibration under braking and AM dealers balanced the ceramic discs with the wheel on the car.

Not sure why tyre balancing would not sort this

When balancing the wheels and tyres off the car, you are only balancing the wheel, valve and tyre. Balancing them on the car and you are also rebalancing the discs, any locking wheel nuts and hubs.

Imbalance will not cause vibration under braking, warped discs, worn balljoints/bushes or binding calipers will.

[AstonZagato]

I had a DBS. I had both excessive brake squeal and vibration. These are two separate issues.

Brake Squeal
Do you drive a lot in the city? This seemed to bring brake squeal on in my car - the pads glaze.
There is a temporary fix. Find an empty road. Accelerate from 0mph to 70mph (of faster depending on your local laws). Brake as hard as you can (I mean really stamp on the brake pedal) down to 10mph or so (important: don't stop completely). Accelerate hard and repeat three or four times. This scrubs the pads and the squeal should be gone. It will come back however.
There may be a more permanent fix. Change the pads. They did that on my DBS with a new compound and afterwards it was rare for them to glaze/squeal.
Furthermore, the ceramics on my Vanquish have never [touch wood] squealed. I think they may have refined the compounds even further.

Vibration
As others have said, this was common on DBS and the wheels need to be "force balanced" (I think that is the correct term). My dealership invested in a new machine to be able to do it and it sorted my DBS.

Good luck.

[Phil57DBS]

Service Bulletin for steering wheel vibration is SB-04-0318

[FredoMusicman]

Thanks phil

Yes I live downtown, so a lot of red lights before I'm on roads. And the two owners before also lived in towns, so this shoul d be right ! Astonzagato..
I already did hard brakings, but not so strong as you mentioned, and it last not really long. But I will do this stronger by the next ride ! I already know where to do this
Yes changing the pads, but I have already a lot service to do with her 9y by end of the year, I think I have to live with the truck squealing some longer ;-)

Vibration are really only under braking.

Edited by FredoMusicman on Monday 31st May 14:01

[FredoMusicman]

Hi !

So, I'd just made the power-made-it yourself-service
I'd speed up to 60m/100km and braked hardly, made it 6 times. The first one was not a complete 100% straight calm braking. But the 5 others were 100% ok !
After that, the squealing is 80% less, and the vibrations also to 70% less than before !
I guess I have to do this all 2 weeks at least.. And in some months I can change the front pads