Cool Carbons Squealing SO MUCH (i've searched)

[135Pats]

First off- yes I have searched, but every brake issue seems to be unique to the situation, so I don’t really have much to go of off. Here’s the deal

Did a full brake job, cool carbon pads on BMWP rotors. Nothing odd or exotic there. I’ve bedded them in but they make a ridiculously loud and sustained squeal under braking force. Coming to a stop from lower speeds is excruciating, and it squeaks almost regardless of pedal pressure. I can be at idle speeds and if I touch the brakes, it squeaks. So I doubt it’s the sensor or anything like that. I’ve done everything except scotch brite the rotors, that shouldn’t be necessary though. The fact that it squeaks at idle speeds to me suggests It’s probably not vibration on the backing plates.

If I get the pads HOT they shut up for a little bit, but that’s all.

Any thoughts? This is driving me out of my mind. Sorry for such a n00b question but I’m at wits end with these stupid things. Should I bed them in again? I haven’t put much more than 1-2K on them for whatever that’s worth.


Thanks all

[SalemChiro]

Did you use any Brake Quiet type material between the back plate and caliper?

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by SalemChiro

Did you use any Brake Quiet type material between the back plate and caliper?

I’d have to ask my tech, I was going to do it myself but work came up so I had to duck out when the rotors came down.

If it were vibration between the backing plate and the caliper, wouldn’t it only be noticeable at higher rates of speed? I can’t imagine there is much vibration or resonance when you are going 3-5mph (idle). And it still squeaks like mad at those types of speeds.

Pretty easy to get to the pads though so I can check.

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by 135Pats

I can be at idle speeds and if I touch the brakes, it squeaks.

Squeak comes from which corner?

At full stop and apply brakes, does it squeak or is it quiet?

I'm assuming you greased the back plates?

Did you use a shim?

Checked to see if there is anything literally stuck in the pad?

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Squeak comes from which corner?

At full stop and apply brakes, does it squeak or is it quiet?

I'm assuming you greased the back plates?

Did you use a shim?

Checked to see if there is anything literally stuck in the pad?

Very helpful, that's a good checklist.

A near or full bore stop, it squeaks but far more quietly. The real squeaking comes from lower speed stops, say 20-0. It’s brutal under those circumstances, which is 99% of my driving in the city.

I’ll have to ask my tech about what if anything is on the backing plates. I had to run on short notice when we did the brakes and wasn’t physically there for the pads going on.

Something physical could be stuck in the pad for sure. This weekend I should pull the pads off and inspect, just need to get some time on a lift. I want to say it’s the front right corner, but other times I think both fronts squeak. Not a peep that I can discern from the rears.

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by 135Pats

Very helpful, that's a good checklist.

Glad to be of help.

If you're hearing a squeak while stopped, does the sound get louder as speed increases? Could be shims rubbing. I THINK the cool carbons come with a shim already built in, maybe your mechanic double shimmed them?

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Glad to be of help.

If you're hearing a squeak while stopped, does the sound get louder as speed increases? Could be shims rubbing. I THINK the cool carbons come with a shim already built in, maybe your mechanic double shimmed them?

Yes i believe they have internal shims...maybe they were double shimmed by accident.

The sound gets louder the slower you are going. So gonig from say 50-30 it's either no noise or I can barely hear it. 15-0 is a disaster.

[dcaron9999]

I had the Cool Carbons, installed them myself, and never hear a peep out of them. I did nothing special to them, except clean out the caliper, and use copper paste on all contact points (including CC pad backing plate), like I allways do during my brake jobs.

.I dont like the CC pads for other reasons - they do not hold up to 15 minutes of intermediate driver level driving on a track. They still market this brake pad a street pad that you can bring to the track. Sure you can.. if you dont mind major brake shudder when the pads get too hot.

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by dcaron9999

I had the Cool Carbons, installed them myself, and never hear a peep out of them. I did nothing special to them, except clean out the caliper, and use copper paste on all contact points (including CC pad backing plate), like I allways do during my brake jobs.

.I dont like the CC pads for other reasons - they do not hold up to 15 minutes of intermediate driver level driving on a track. They still market this brake pad a street pad that you can bring to the track. Sure you can.. if you dont mind major brake shudder when the pads get too hot.

I think it’s an outstanding street pad. Linear, good enough cold bite, low dust, good hot bite.

But it is NOT a track pad. No way.

Maybe the pads got double shimmed by accident? It sounds like the pad is a quiet one, so there must be something resonating. Gotta be the backing plate and/or second shim that shouldn’t have been added in. I’ll inspect it this weekend.

[Riley1524]

When I did mine (stoptech pads and R1 concept cross-drilled and slotted rotors) I made sure to clean the carrier and carrier bolts really good with sand paper. If the pads aren't seated well, it can cause a vibration and in turn cause the high pitch squeal. Putting the high temp paste so these parts can move freely is also something to check. The carrier bolts tend to get really dirty and may not move like they should if they are dirty

[Pyrat 2]

Recommend simply taking them off and reinstalling. Add some compound to the back if it looks like they were installed properly.

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by Riley1524

When I did mine (stoptech pads and R1 concept cross-drilled and slotted rotors) I made sure to clean the carrier and carrier bolts really good with sand paper. If the pads aren't seated well, it can cause a vibration and in turn cause the high pitch squeal. Putting the high temp paste so these parts can move freely is also something to check. The carrier bolts tend to get really dirty and may not move like they should if they are dirty

Originally Posted by HeelToe

Recommend simply taking them off and reinstalling. Add some compound to the back if it looks like they were installed properly.

Thanks for the responses.

One thing I noticed, when I clean the wheels and brakes while washing the car, the squeaking all but disappears for a short period of time (let's call it the rest of the day). Within a few dozen miles though, it returns.

Wouldn't this seem to rule out vibration and backing plate issues? It would seem that that would either be an issue all the time, or never. The flip side is that i've bedded these pads twice, there is no question they're properly bedded etc.

I'm at a loss. Will pull them off and do a visual inspection next chance I get.

[BD_F22]

I am also running CC pads with ECS slotted geomet rotors and initially had brake squeal at low speeds and then applied CRC Brake Quiet formula and havn't heard a peep since. It was recommended by Mr. 5 in his review and it worked

[ShocknAwe]

Any updates for this? Hope you figured it out.

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Any updates for this? Hope you figured it out.

Got caught up with work etc. Will be pulling the pads to inspect on Monday, i'll report what is found. Going to re apply brake quiet and see if an accidental shim was added since CCs have a shim built into them.

[NorthernDancer]

Go to Bav Auto web site, on the bottom of the page click on "Tech" and down a bit you'll find "Noise Prevention Check List-Cool Carbon brake pads". One of the most important things they recommend is waiting for 1 hour for the Noise Free to become tacky and if possible, leave to dry for 12 hours, ie: over night. A commercial garage is never going to wait the 1 hour. Good Luck

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by NorthernDancer

Go to Bav Auto web site, on the bottom of the page click on "Tech" and down a bit you'll find "Noise Prevention Check List-Cool Carbon brake pads". One of the most important things they recommend is waiting for 1 hour for the Noise Free to become tacky and if possible, leave to dry for 12 hours, ie: over night. A commercial garage is never going to wait the 1 hour. Good Luck

I'll be sure to bring that up, thanks bud.


Will report back next week on whatever the result is.

[kobeballer96]

Buying CC was the first problem

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by kobeballer96

Buying CC was the first problem

Right now, I don't disagree with you. Crap cold bite, decent hot bite, ridiculous squealing, nothing to write home about full bore braking performance....hey they barely dust, guess that's a positive

[135Pats]

Pulled the pads, inspected, cleaned, re-applied brake-squeal paste.
Same result.

Awful. So at this point it has to be the pads, for whatever reason they just hate making contact with BMWP front rotors. The rear pads are quiet as a mouse, front pads are truly abysmal. I’ll keep the rear pads on but will be swapping back to OE fronts as soon as I can. If anyone wants a set of very lightly used Cool Carbon fronts, they can have em for the cost of shipping. I’m tired of them.

[Paneristi]

Originally Posted by 135Pats

Thanks for the responses.

One thing I noticed, when I clean the wheels and brakes while washing the car, the squeaking all but disappears for a short period of time (let's call it the rest of the day). Within a few dozen miles though, it returns.

Wouldn't this seem to rule out vibration and backing plate issues? It would seem that that would either be an issue all the time, or never. The flip side is that i've bedded these pads twice, there is no question they're properly bedded etc.

I'm at a loss. Will pull them off and do a visual inspection next chance I get.

I have the exact same symptoms with my brakes as you do although im running the OEM pads. Its driving me insane so please keep me posted if you find a proper solution.

[lowbudgethero]

I have the same issue with my brakes and realized the symptom goes away when the brakes get hot.