How to Stop Ceramic Brakes From Squeaking

Squeaking ceramic brake pads are rare. Part of their popularity among consumers stems from the fact that ceramic pads are some of the quietest brake pads available on the market. Because they are made from ceramic materials instead of metal, they do not create the same amount of friction with the rotor as traditional metallic pads and, therefore, do not cause as much noise. When sold, however, most ceramic pads do come with a noise reduction grease that may be applied for an even quieter riding experience.

Instructions

1

Jack your car up off the ground. Place jack stands under the car's side rails. Carefully lower your car onto the jack stands. Use your tire wrench to turn your lug nuts counterclockwise. Turn them 1/4 inch to loosen them. Pull off the lug nuts. Secure them in an easy-to-remember, accessible place for later reassembly. Take off the tire.

2

Locate your brake caliper's two pin bolts. They secure the brake caliper to the piston. One is at the bottom rear of the caliper while the other is at the top rear. Use your socket wrench to screw the pin bolts out. Turn them to the left. Some car calipers have two different-sized pin bolts. Make note of which bolt fits in which hole for later reassembly.

3

Slide a screwdriver in a free space in your caliper to loosen it. Pull the caliper up and off. The caliper is attached to rubber brake lines which are fragile. Secure the caliper so the brake lines are not stretched. Do not pull on the caliper too much. Your brake pads are inside of the caliper.

4

Slide the inner ceramic brake pad out from the piston. Put some ceramic brake pad noise reduction grease on your index finger and apply it to the sides of the pad that come in contact with the rotor. Push your outer pad inward to release it. You may have to use pliers to release the outer pad from a flexible holding pin. Apply the noise reduction grease only to the sides of the outer pad that come in contact with the rotor.

5

Slide the caliper back onto the rotor. You may have to wiggle it a bit to get a secure fit. Locate and insert the two pin bolts that were removed in Step 2. Turn the bolts to the right to tighten them.

6

Put your tire back on. Insert your lug nuts and tighten them. Remove the jack stands, and lower your car back to the ground.