[GooGooDollChic89]

I bought my Malibu last April and about 2 months after my right front brake started to squeak. It is quite annoying. Well, I didn't take it to get checked on for a long time because I didn't think the brakes would be bad after 2 months. I just recently took it to get checked on and the guy said that it is completely normal for the brakes to sound like that and said they were 50% used so they didn't need to be changed. He said it was the type of brake that Chevy put on their Malibu's. It is more of a metal brake, and they last longer but the back thing is sometimes they squeak. I find this a little weird that you have to put up with that awful sound and it's only coming from one brake. Is he correct or just shooting me some sort of story? I just don't find it right that I should hear that noise being it should be a quiet car.

 

[BLUE-BU]

I would have new brake pads installed and use an anti-squeak shim or spray on the back of the new pads. Usually solves the problem.

http://www.permatex.com/products/Au...nce_repair/auto_Permatex_Disc_Brake_Quiet.htm

 

[Trippejoe]

I purchase my 09 bu in January, and i have now discover the same problem with the squeaking brakes. I have an appointment at the dealer this week to replace the pads, according to the dealer they have a number of malibu's coming in with same problem.

 

[bballr4567]

Same with ours. Along with the hood popping open twice (not all the way open but just to where it goes when you open it from the inside) randomly we are getting new pads put on because of the squeaking.

 

[GooGooDollChic89]

Yea, I'm glad i'm not the only one dealing with this problem. I just need to get new pads put on regardless of what the guy said at the body shop. He said I didn't need them, and they are 60% used. I find that kind of sucky that they squeak, and they aren't that bad off.

 

[1bird2]

Me too. Can not tell which brake(s) are squeaking, but mine only squeak at a low speed, i.e. when in "stop and go" traffic, under 5 mi. If I brake normal when approaching a stop sign or light, or have to brake sudden while driving -- no squeak. Car has 12K miles, had car little over a year. I am going to take into the dealer and see what they say.

 

[GooGooDollChic89]

Yea, exact same thing here. I would like to know what they say about yours if you don't mind.

 

[BillD64]

Not a problem to worry about. Good brakes squeak under the correct circumstances. Don't get new pads that don't squeak they will not be as good as the pads you have. Better to have a squeal than having crap pads. There isn't anything to be embarrased about.

There are so many people that complain about this a lot of mechanics just started installing ceramic pads since they don't squeak. Ceramic pads do not stop the car as well but the mechanics don't have come backs for stupid reasons.

Worry about something important.

Bill

 

[OnDaGround]

Ceramic pads do not stop the car as well but the mechanics don't have come backs for stupid reasons.

I disagree with that. Ceramic pads work rather well. Certainly better then a standard semi metallic pad. The only thing about ceramic brakes is that they hate chemicals, and they need heat before they really start to perform well.

Also most mechanics (outside of a dealer) either use dealer parts or get the cheapest crap they can find. They try to keep the cost down so they are more likely to sell the job. Do not trust back yard mechanics (as I like to call them). I prefer to have a 5 y/o with a wrench work on my car. Either way you will get the equivalent work. Do it yourself or take it to a dealer.

 

[GooGooDollChic89]

Worry about something important.

Bill

Sorry but it's kinda important to me. I find it an inconvenience and plus why would only one break squeak? Is only one bad? That would be the case in what you say. The squeaking right break is better than the left quiet break?

 

[OnDaGround]

There are a couple of reasons. The pad clips could be bent. The caliper pins could be sticking, the caliper could be sticking, the shim might have not been put on or come put on, the tech could have not put grease on the pad shim, or the grease came off.

If the caliper/caliper pins were sticking you would see uneven brake wear. If the car is under warranty I would take it to chevy and have them take a look.

 

[GooGooDollChic89]

Thanx very much. These all sound like logical reasons as to why only one brake has a problem. I may need to take my car somewhere else to get looked at because the mechanic said there was nothing wrong, but squeaking to me (or my experiences with bad brakes) always means something isn't right plus it's just plain annoying. Plus this mechanic also said my windshield wipers were fine when in fact they were horrible. Thanks again!

 

[OnDaGround]

You took the car to chevy? Don't take the car to another shop. They may say something is wrong and not replace anything and just put some grease on the pads. Then you pay for replacing a caliper....

If you are taking it to chevy ask for a second opinion from another tech. When a car comes back to a dealer they return it to the same tech because they know what they've done and have not done. I work for a VW dealer. I know how it works.

 

[jessep28]

If you are fortunate to live in an area with multiple Chevy dealerships, if one is giving you the runaround, I would take it to another dealer.

 

[GooGooDollChic89]

Yea, I took it to the dealer where I got the car from. I just have a feeling the guy is either too lazy or has no idea what he is talking about. There is another Chevy dealership in the area so I can take it there or I can just ask for another opinion from the same place like OnDaGround said.

 

[OnDaGround]

If it works for you, you might try another dealer. You might find out that you like the other one better.

 

[BillD64]

Yea, I took it to the dealer where I got the car from. I just have a feeling the guy is either too lazy or has no idea what he is talking about. There is another Chevy dealership in the area so I can take it there or I can just ask for another opinion from the same place like OnDaGround said.

I am sorry if I sound like a hard xxx.

However, there is a high likelihood you will get the same story from the other dealer. Brakes squeak and they are just fine. They squeak at one wheel and not the others and are just fine.

When the pads are worn to the point the wear indicators start to make noise you will be able to tell the difference between that noise and the normal squeaking. If the caliper is stuck you will also be able to tell the difference between that noise and the normal squeaking.

The ones on my Malibu will squeak every now and then as well. I know from the sound that it isn't a problem.

Bill

 

[Trippejoe]

I took my car to the dealer last week and got the pads replace, my car has less than 5000 miles and the squeaking was driving me crazy. Didn't have a problem from my dealer told them about the problem and they fix it (so far). The service manager at the dealer was telling me that a few 09 bu's are coming for service for the same problem.

 

[OnDaGround]

I'm sure that chevy will soon put out a TSB on it. Normally they wait until it becomes more and more common.

 

[luckycat]

Question for you all..what is the frequency of your squeal? ;-) I ask because we have an 09, no high pitched squeal but occasionally- when stopping slowly I'd say, there is a sort of "grinding" noise or something that we hear. It doesn't happen all of the time. My wife says it's like an "airplane taking off" but it is NOT loud. I haven't taken it in because it seems to be ok, and I only hear the noise occasionally. I have felt all of the discs and they don't have any weird grooves or anything.

Note: There may be aTSB on what I'm experiencing see TSB on Brakes thread.