The last couple of days I have had a very loud squeal coming from the front drivers side of my car. I took the wheel off today and I could replicate the sound by spinning the rotor. My pads are low, probably around 3mm, but they are not at the metal yet, so I do not think that is the issue.

I did notice that my pad is making contact with a rusted part of the rotor. Towards the center of the rotor there is a lot of surface rust. I am not sure whether or not the contact between the pad and the rust is causing the squeal, but it is a place to start. How do you guys recommend I remove this rust, 1000 grain sand paper?

Here is a picture of where the rust is...



Any other ideas for the squeal would be appreciated, as well.

 

Get them resurfaced, only like $5-$10 at any brake shop. Probably has crystallization.

 

you probably hit the break sensor.

get new pads and resurfaced. 3mm is not a whole lot.

 

Brake sensor? And I know 3mm is not a lot. I was planning on replacing my pads and rotors this Summer, I just thought I had a bit more time to do it. My service manual says 1mm is the minimum thickness, so I was going to run my pads down to the bottom.

I called Firestone and they quoted 70 dollars to resurface the rotor I could buy a new rotor for that money. I just don't have the time or the tools available right now to do the brake job. It will have to wait until this weekend.

 

Sensor on the pad that tells you its too low.

$70 bucks, uh-uh dont think so. What did you ask them? More than likely $70 bucks is to do all 4. If you remove them and take them in ANYwhere, the most you're gonna pay is $15-$20 bucks. Midas charges $10 bucks each. Americas Discount tires charges about the same or $15 bucks. $70 has to be for all 4

 

Ah, I see. I think I may just go ahead and buy new rotors and pads and slap them on this weekend. I'll install new pads at the minimum. I am going home this weekend to install a rear brake fit kit, anyways. I will just deal with the squeal for the time being. It is pretty obnoxious, though.

Thanks for all the advice guys! I am slowly fixing all the noises that my car is making.

 

One final note: When I had my wheel off and I was trying to spin my rotor there was plenty of resistance from the brake pads. Should the pads be this tight when I am not braking? I have noticed that the driver side brakes have been producing a much larger quantity of brake dust than the passenger side. Should I attribute this to the pads being more worn out on the driver side, or the pads being fitted too tight?