My brakes do not make a peep

 

I just noticed a squeal yesterday on my first few stops.....

 

Hi. I live on Long Island NY and I have the noise all the time. It’s more than a month that it started. Last week I took for the first service and told browns dealership about that noise and when I pick up my car was doing the same thing so I ask and told me that it’s normal and the mechanic could not have the same noise. That only did at the beginning and it went away. I’m very disappointed I had a 2017 guilia sport and it did happened the same so they replaced all brakes and discs. It’s very annoying that your new car breaks squeak all the time when you apply the breaks it’s loud. Trying to get the phone number from Alfa does anybody know that number. Will really appreciate it.

 

Hi abcalta,
We understand why this would be concerning. Alfa Romeo Customer Care can be reached at 1 (844) 253-2872. You may also send us a private message if you would like to continue pursuing this concern with your dealer in order to try and find a potential solution. We would be happy to assist you during this process.
Lydia
Alfa Romeo Social Care Specialist

 

We got our first cold weather of the season in North Texas this week and my wife commented that the brakes were making a lot of noise.

 

Add me to the list - I noticed about 5 days ago that I was getting a brake squeal. Generally the first few minutes after starting up and then it goes away.

 

Same here... Last few days here in cold New Jersey.

 

It was 21 F yesterday morning and no noise from my brakes.

 

Doing a little googling - it seems like a very common problem and not just with AR. I'm wondering if its cold/humidity combination. Most of the articles suggest the material of the brake pad oxidizes at night and a thin later of rust can form on both the rotor and the pad (i've noticed these rotors form a layer of rust pretty quick). I'd imagine 21* in chicago humidity probably isn't too high right now.

 

Ohio is special. We are at 95% RH and 36 F right now. My squealing brakes started around 40 F and most humidity levels.

 

I thought it was just me -- I noticed a little squeak as well.

 

Thanks don't know how I missed this.

I guess we are a bit behind the cold weather in CA.

 

Same here... Wisconsin weather and noticed it as it got under 40 degrees. Honestly though, nowhere near as bad as my last 2 cars (Audi Q5, and VW Touareg). Reported it to Audi service when I had the Q5, and they said nothing they could do. Was the nature of the brakes/pad make-up. The Stelvio hasn't been anywhere near as loud or long. I know it's normal, but rolling up in the Audi and parking in a spot and "squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeak". Felt somewhat lame...

Sean

 

I do. I have taken it back 3 times to have it fixed. They claim to FILE the pads and have turned the rotors with no resolve. I have to take it back again.

 

Mine starting squeaking after 2000 miles and never goes away, always out of the passenger rear. I even braked hard a bunch of time it comes back.

 

Wait, wait, wait....


So you guys have owned cars where the brakes DIDN'T squeak or squeal in cold weather, or after hard braking??!!! (hard braking can overheat the pads and rotors causing them to glaze over - the heat fuses and the friction polishes, making the surfaces smooth - which creates brake noise...it doesn't take it away. That is a myth.)


Wow, no sarcasm, I mean it. Pretty much every car I've driven since 1989 has had brake noise to some extent or another...guess my Dad is right, it is me...


(At least @sgalow noticed it in his VAG products...that makes me feel somewhat better.)

 

Yes actually. Haha. I've had the same commute for the past 7 years and have owned 4 different vehicles in that time period including my Alfa. The Alfa is on a whole different level when it comes to brake squeal. My other vehicles might have slight squeal while backing out of my parking spot and maybe for a stop or two after but you had to kind of listen for it to even hear it. My Alfa I'm pretty sure you can hear all the way across the US. I bet my parents in Nebraska have been wondering why they hear a squealing sound every morning and evening. Haha. It's insanely loud and even does it on my commute home after the car has been sitting in our underground parking at work where it's consistently 75-80 degrees.

 

My 2009 BMW 328XI brakes never made a peep, they don't make cars like that anymore.

 

Huh, I only heard the brakes make noise in my 03 330Ci when the window was down....but they made noise.

 

I’ve only had this level of pronounced cold weather squeal with the Alfa. I had rust noises on both Subarus and the Kia in the cold until the rust got ground off. We don’t talk about cars prior to those since I was listening for the engine to die more than brake nose.

 

My brakes started Squealing about 2 months ago and seem to be coming from left rear but goes away. But it is annoying specially when you stop at a red light and other drivers can hear it. Not even sure if its worth taking it to dealer. i live in Vegas lol

 

Add me to the list - I noticed about 5 days ago that I was getting a brake squeal. Generally the first few minutes after starting up and then it goes away.

Wait, wait, wait....


So you guys have owned cars where the brakes DIDN'T squeak or squeal in cold weather, or after hard braking??!!! (hard braking can overheat the pads and rotors causing them to glaze over - the heat fuses and the friction polishes, making the surfaces smooth - which creates brake noise...it doesn't take it away. That is a myth.)


Wow, no sarcasm, I mean it. Pretty much every car I've driven since 1989 has had brake noise to some extent or another...guess my Dad is right, it is me...


(At least @sgalow noticed it in his VAG products...that makes me feel somewhat better.)

So I live in CT. We had really cold weather started 10 days ago. and I am getting the same brakes squeaking noise in the first few attempts of the breaking in the morning and then I do not hear them for the rest of the trip. Same thing happens at night when they are cold again on the way back to home. Initially it was little disappointing to hear that. I never had these noises in my past cars. accord, venza, cayenne. But It seems from this thread that this is pretty normal and everyone here complained about the noise but no one have found the permanent solution to it.

So is it safe to assume that this is pretty normal in really cold mornings and Nothing to worry about it?
Please advise.
Thanks,

 

When is the last time you took vehicle up to 75-80 and stood on them a few times? That is all your dealer will do if you bring it in. BURN OFF THE GLAZE one gets from being too gentle. It has been suggested here before. Did you try it?? Did you inspect the rotors for scoring which a pebble can do quite quickly??

 

If the noise doesn’t go away after several brake options u have a few choices.
There is a past they sell at most automotive stores that go between the back of the brake pad and the caliber. This will stop the pad from vibrating during light braking.

2nd someone mentioned glazing the pads and rotors u can remove the pad and scrap the braking side along some not so smooth concrete that will remove the glazing. On the Rotors you can take some sand paper and rough up the rotors this will fix the glazing issue.

I haven’t taken apart the brakes yet but you might be missing the anti rattle clip sometimes it breaks or falls out. So check that as well.

For what it’s worth sometimes it’s the pads that cause this and aftermarket pads cure it also.

Ian

 

Ok, realize this car has a very different system as far as how the brakes are applied. They grab faster and harder then normal braking system. Much faster...and much harder. They also have more subtle tactile feedback (which I would love a software update to increase the feel of). As such, I believe, they require different application.

Just speaking for myself...I do not use the brakes the same as I do in other vehicles (which I kinda hate driving now...brakes and steering feel...muddy...especially the brakes, cluncky and slow. There are exceptions...Porsche brakes still feel great, but less aggressive then they used to).

I brake a lot less. Wait longer to apply, and then apply for less time with an initial push then reduced pressure. Basically I mimic how the computer brakes when on cruise.

After first buying the car I noticed the computer brought the car to a stop much smoother than I could. That upset me...felt like John Henry...no machine can out do me damnit. Not without a fight...I can die winning. The point is I'm better than a damn machine.

So I spent a lot of time in cruise studying the braking sensations in various situations from normal driving to more extreme maneuvers. Did stupid stuff like override cruise by hitting the gas to very quickly accelerate right up to where I coildn't see the bumper of the car in front..then would drop the gas pedal and let the car brake (hard) to back off and maintain distance. Accelerate up to 80, set the cruise at 65...then drop the gas and see how it slowed down. Only did this a couple times, don't suggest driving that way normally.

But I studied how the car used the brakes and found it really didn't use them that much and when it did it as an initial hard push with reducing pressure till stopping. Which is not how I used the brakes.

I would start breaking further away and progressively push harder for about 3/4 of the stop/slow down, then reduce pedal pressure right at the end. In every other car I ever driven that is how I got the smoothest performance and fastest stopping.

So I changed that. Now I wait longer to brake, generally by lifting off the gas at the point I instinctively want to brake (habits die hard) but then coasting for a bit before actually hitting the brake pedal. When I do hit the pedal I go immediately to full pressure for the situation I'm in..nothing gradual about it. Don't stab the brake, be smooth but don't lollygag either..get to it. Hold that till I feel the car begin to slow (takes a second or less depending)..then I began gradually reducing pressure till achieving what I'm looking for whether a full stop or just slow down.

So basically the reverse of my previous braking habits. 1/4 time spent hard brake, 3/4 soft brake.

I do get some squeaking for the first couple stops of the day till things heat up, after that nice and quiet. However the squeking is never bad...for the most part is my windows are up and the stereo on at and audible volume...I don't hear anything.

My suspicion is you are driving the car and braking like you have your whole driving career..which is normal and makes sense not trying to throw shade...however, this vehicle is not the same as the other cars you've driven in terms of the braking system.

Use the brakes for less time, brake faster with more time spent reducing pressure instead of building and I bet your squeals go away.

For me...these are very quiet brakes. My BMW 330 ci sounded like nails on a chalk board..same thing with all my VAG vehicles (except the Boxster). People would be in their apartment with the windows closed and know when I pulled into the parking lot....by the noise of my brakes. I have always been hard on brakes..helps (as a kid) having a Dad with a shop so whenever I warped rotors so bad the steering wheel would shake uncontrollably under braking, the swap out was free...

Every other car I've owned (Boxster the exception) my driving style has caused me to have loud brakes and worn shock absorbers requiring replacement after a year or less. Sometimes I have to replace rotors several times. Generally I just get another car every year or so because there is also chassis flex developing (kinda feel bad for the people who got the cars a after me..they were beat).

This car made me change my habits...and rewards me for pushing it by having quiet brakes and a solid chassis, even after a year of driving harder than I ever did in a BMW, Audi or VW..just because it goes off road.

Love this car so much...gunna go out side and hug it.❤❤❤❤❤!

 

Love

In the end it's really just about this, isn't it! And thanks for the detailed braking analysis, gonna work on my braking style.

 

I agree with @Knightofargh. First cold morning, below 0 degC, and I heard very strange noise while driving, could be the brake pads, but did not sound like on my previous cars... Noise stopped after a km.

I had only one car, xc60 2014, on which, during four winters, never heard break squeal in any similar conditions...

 

its just annoying and it has to do with cold weather as in the summer they do not make any noise.