[TVIDboo]

When slowing down from low speed, just before the vehicle reaches a complete stop, there is fairly loud squeaking noise. Even idling forward and then gently applying the brakes, there is the same noise. But when stopping from higher speeds it is quiet.

I tried using compressed air and even a water nozzle to clean under the brake pads, just in case. I was concerned that if a small pebble was trapped it could scour the rotors. So, I just had my brakes checked and all looks good. Mechanic says they are in excellent condition after 29000+ miles.

My question - what can cause this constant squeaking when the brakes are in such good condition? Note that it doesn't affect brake operation.

Thanks for any help!

 

[Starship]

The "brakes are in such good condition?" The mechanic probably meant good pad life left. Squeaking is from glazing on the rotors and pads from rapid, localized heating. Imagine rubbing hard, mirror-like surfaces together. If it bothers you, have the pads replaced and rotors refinished/replaced (often enough material has to be removed to warrant a replacement).

 

[BillD64]

Good brakes can squeak. Its nothing to worry about. When the wear indicators get down far enough to make noise you will be able to tell the difference. The ones on my 08 Malibu have been squeaking for over a year.

Bill

 

[onecrazyfoo4u]

Just bought my 09 malibu and the brakes squeek as well. The pads are brand new, maybe it just needs the rotor resurfaced? Or have people bought better quality pads and not had any squeeking?

It's super loud and annoying.

 

[malibudragon]

Mine has been doing that for a while. it comes and goes

 

[elcompaLalo]

Mine have squeaked for 1 1/2 years, they perform well and the pad life is excellent. Annoying but won't justify replacement just yet.

 

[RaineMan]

Yep... this is a Malibu problem across the board. Mine has done it since day 1 and still does it today. Very annoying... have had 2 dealers look at it and both said it was normal.

Honestly you could probably fix it by getting new brake pads... sounds like the batch they used at the factory were crap-o.

Truthfully, I don't care enough about the car to do anything about it yet. If I still have the car when it comes times for new brake pads I will put something high quality on and the squeak will go away.

 

[ChicagoMalibu2009]

Yep... this is a Malibu problem across the board. Mine has done it since day 1 and still does it today. Very annoying... have had 2 dealers look at it and both said it was normal.

Honestly you could probably fix it by getting new brake pads... sounds like the batch they used at the factory were crap-o.

Truthfully, I don't care enough about the car to do anything about it yet. If I still have the car when it comes times for new brake pads I will put something high quality on and the squeak will go away.

I can't believe how absolutely for certain this is. 5-15MPH, lightly braking, a squeak. All front Drivers side too right? Or front only at the least?

Is there any recourse we can seek? Its a wear item so i know it's not covered. But how can they say its a wear item if they give us a trash wear item to start out with. It reminds me of those things you buy where the "starter kit" has enough of whatever to last 2 uses, and then every refill on the planet lasts 20 uses. Its like, cant they just make one type and give you ONE FULL one free with the product???

rant over.

 

[onecrazyfoo4u]

Yeah, mines only the front brakes...could just be the drivers side as well (I'll have to ride in the passenger side to tell). And same with me, it only squeeks at low speeds, never at anything above 30 mph no matter how hard/lightly I hit the brakes.

 

[DrivenDaily]

Ditto, fronts squeak, not certain if only one side or both. Happens at low speeds only.

Happily they don't continue to squeak once stopped!

 

[BillD64]

Yep... this is a Malibu problem across the board. Mine has done it since day 1 and still does it today. Very annoying... have had 2 dealers look at it and both said it was normal.

Honestly you could probably fix it by getting new brake pads... sounds like the batch they used at the factory were crap-o.

Truthfully, I don't care enough about the car to do anything about it yet. If I still have the car when it comes times for new brake pads I will put something high quality on and the squeak will go away.

There isn't any across the board problem. Squeaking brakes are not a problem. By the way if you put high quality pads on the car they probably will squeak just as much or even more. Good brake pads that stop a car squeak. Of course you can buy so called high quality pads that don't make as much noise or dust but they don't stop the car as well either.

Bill

 

[RaineMan]

There isn't any across the board problem. Squeaking brakes are not a problem. By the way if you put high quality pads on the car they probably will squeak just as much or even more. Good brake pads that stop a car squeak. Of course you can buy so called high quality pads that don't make as much noise or dust but they don't stop the car as well either.

Bill

I don't know what you have in your head. I have owned 6 cars before this Malibu, bought 3 of them brand new, including a Cobalt SS. None of them had squeaky brakes.

 

[ChicagoMalibu2009]

There isn't any across the board problem. Squeaking brakes are not a problem. By the way if you put high quality pads on the car they probably will squeak just as much or even more. Good brake pads that stop a car squeak. Of course you can buy so called high quality pads that don't make as much noise or dust but they don't stop the car as well either.

Bill

I've never owned a car that had brakes that were squeaky in this manner or to this degree. I wouldn't say its a recallable problem, but that's certainly something possible, as I feel GM has put slightly undersized brakes on sedans for a while IMO. I think the rotors/system are at least an inch undersized.
Depending on the composition, some pads that advertise as lower dust actually deliver better stopping performance, namely most ceramic compounds.

 

[Silver LTZ]

FYI, while I am glad my brakes on my Malibu are pretty quiet. Many performance brakes are noisy. But hence my term, performance. The race pads on my Camaro squeal like a pig, but work awesome. Listen to the brakes on many exotics, they are noisy too. Or check out the pits of a car race.

But IMO while some brake squeal is okay on a real performance car, a sedan like the Malibu shouldn't make any noise.

 

[DrivenDaily]

Take a long look back to the 50's and 60's in America and Europe. The Europeans have had disc brakes for decades, and they squealed. Better performance, more safety, and the only "cost" was a little noise. Americans were treated to a diet of quiet brakes by having 4-wheel drum brakes that faded more quickly and were unsafe if gotten too wet. But eventually they started to enjoy disc/drum setups with greatly improved performance and safety, albeit some noise. A lot of research has improved the quietness, but friction is just that: friction. The nature of disc brakes is harmonic vibrations set up by that friction, which we perceive as squeal.

My front brakes squeal a little as well but I don't consider it a nuisance. It's more like a reminder that I can stop better with discs than with drums. Europeans accepted the noise a long time ago but here in America we've been trained to feel that if it ain't like a sofa then something's wrong.

If you still have an idea that disc brakes are cheap if they squeal, see SilverLTZ's post above, do some research, and also check on different products for sale that help reduce squeal. (Try AutoZone, Advance, Checker/Schuck's/Kragen, etc.)

On the other hand, if your brakes squeal so loud that folks in Austrailia are waking up then you just might need some assistance from GM, or you might be down to metal-to-metal, in which case you simply need some new hardware.

 

[ChicagoMalibu2009]

Take a long look back to the 50's and 60's in America and Europe. The Europeans have had disc brakes for decades, and they squealed. Better performance, more safety, and the only "cost" was a little noise. Americans were treated to a diet of quiet brakes by having 4-wheel drum brakes that faded more quickly and were unsafe if gotten too wet. But eventually they started to enjoy disc/drum setups with greatly improved performance and safety, albeit some noise. A lot of research has improved the quietness, but friction is just that: friction. The nature of disc brakes is harmonic vibrations set up by that friction, which we perceive as squeal.

My front brakes squeal a little as well but I don't consider it a nuisance. It's more like a reminder that I can stop better with discs than with drums. Europeans accepted the noise a long time ago but here in America we've been trained to feel that if it ain't like a sofa then something's wrong.

If you still have an idea that disc brakes are cheap if they squeal, see SilverLTZ's post above, do some research, and also check on different products for sale that help reduce squeal. (Try AutoZone, Advance, Checker/Schuck's/Kragen, etc.)

On the other hand, if your brakes squeal so loud that folks in Austrailia are waking up then you just might need some assistance from GM, or you might be down to metal-to-metal, in which case you simply need some new hardware.

This is very interesting, its a very good reminder. Squeal is definitely a sound acceptable when performance brakes are being used, and I'm debating putting on some better rotors and pads since the stock setup is a bit dry anyhow.

My main qualm is with the fact that it chirps every rotation of the wheel. A solid SQUEEEEEEEEL (STOP). That would be fine, but while braking i get a squEAk, squEAk, squEAk, squEAk as I'm slowing down. It's to the level of embarassing when I'm pulling up to a red light. I sound like a taxi cab and it is very loud/sounds like im hobbling down the road after an accident/kicking in my fender to limp home.

If I upgrade my brakes, I'm cool with them being 4 times louder, as long as they make noise from solid stopping power. It really seems like something with the factory setup, maybe even their per unit testing, throws something off with the OEM equip.

 

[RaineMan]

You guys still have some messed up ideas about disc brakes. My Cobalt SS did 60-0 in around 120 feet (by comparison the Corvette does 60-0 in around 110). The brakes never made a sound.

If you are running race pads I would expect some noise. But your average street car should be able to stop silently every time. If squeaking were normal for disc brakes every single car on the road would be doing it. Roll down your window the next time you approach a stop light in traffic and take a good long listen. I'm betting you won't hear any squeaks or squealing unless there happens to be an old 80's junker coming to the light with you.

 

[DrivenDaily]

You guys still have some messed up ideas about disc brakes. My Cobalt SS did 60-0 in around 120 feet (by comparison the Corvette does 60-0 in around 110). The brakes never made a sound.

If you are running race pads I would expect some noise. But your average street car should be able to stop silently every time. If squeaking were normal for disc brakes every single car on the road would be doing it. Roll down your window the next time you approach a stop light in traffic and take a good long listen. I'm betting you won't hear any squeaks or squealing unless there happens to be an old 80's junker coming to the light with you.

You make a good point! It shows that they've been doing some research on the matter to make it better. Mine are quiet when clamping down on 'em. They squeal only first thing in the morning for the first couple of stops. I figure it's the absorption of moisture overnight that's being boiled out. They're real touchy those first few times as well.

Chicago, with your explanation I agree that you have a nasty problem. I'd be on my way to the dealer if it was my car. I hope you get some resolution.