Ford Fiesta - Squealing / squeaking tyres or brake discs?

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Thu 5 Nov 2020 00:21
Ford Fiesta - Squealing / squeaking tyres or brake discs? - clappedout

My car has recently exhibited these sounds, similar to nails down a blackboard.

I'm aware that if brake pads are on their way out, it can create similar whistling sounds to give a warning to replace.

However, I've initially only noticed this screeching noise when moving off from standing, but disappears once into third/fourth gears. I've noticed this a several traffic lights. At first, I thought it was someone else!

But, I later realised that this annoying sound is continuous when the car is moving. Will this noise go away? Is it a major problem? I assume it's nothing to do wuth the bearings?

How much would it cost to get it checked and have the culprit replaced if it turns out to be pads?

Thanks

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Thu 5 Nov 2020 00:53
Ford Fiesta - Squealing / squeaking tyres or brake discs? - edlithgow

Could be a slipping accessory drive belt also.

I'd doubt anyone can answer your questions without hearing the noise. I probably couldn't even if I did.

If you suspect brake pad screachers, have a look at your brake pads to see if they are worn down to the brake pad screachers,.

Wont cost you anything.

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Thu 5 Nov 2020 14:02
Ford Fiesta - Squealing / squeaking tyres or brake discs? - Bolt

Could be a slipping accessory drive belt also.

I'd doubt anyone can answer your questions without hearing the noise. I probably couldn't even if I did.

If you suspect brake pad screachers, have a look at your brake pads to see if they are worn down to the brake pad screachers,.

Wont cost you anything.

Agreed it could be slipping alternator belt, ask someone who knows about cars to check the belt tension and adjust if needed, if belt is ok look at pad thickness in case its them too thin.

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Mon 9 Nov 2020 01:25
Ford Fiesta - Squealing / squeaking tyres or brake discs? - clappedout

Thanks for taking the time to respond. Sorry I haven't replied.

Surely if it's the alternator belt, it would squeal once the engine's running, but the sound I experienced seemed to disappear once the car stopped.

Took it out for another spin the other day and didn't notice the same squeal, but on a couple of occasions, there were high pitched squealing when braking so can only assume that's what's causing the problem.

Probably sticky pads?

I also noticed a burning smell which I thought may have been from the vehicle in front of me, but later thought it could be my clutch (when I initially posted). After my more recent drive, I think it may have been from my sticky brake pads?

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Mon 9 Nov 2020 02:27
Ford Fiesta - Squealing / squeaking tyres or brake discs? - edlithgow

Sounds likely.

You should probably do something about it.

Hot brakes don't work so well, and if they get really hot they might boil your brake fluid if its a bit old.

Then they might not work hardly at all, and you might crash.

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Mon 9 Nov 2020 10:05
Ford Fiesta - Squealing / squeaking tyres or brake discs? - Bolt

You should probably do something about it.

Having the brakes as suspect I would have thought OP would have had them checked out earlier, as much for piece of mind as safety

it could be pads are at minimum- but until checked we can only guess!

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Mon 9 Nov 2020 09:35
Ford Fiesta - Squealing / squeaking tyres or brake discs? - Andrew-T

I also noticed a burning smell which I thought may have been from the vehicle in front of me, but later thought it could be my clutch (when I initially posted). After my more recent drive, I think it may have been from my sticky brake pads?

If the brakes are sticking, one or more wheels/drums will feel too hot after a few miles driving.

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Wed 18 Nov 2020 17:00
Ford Fiesta - Squealing / squeaking tyres or brake discs? - clappedout

How much is it likely to cost to replace front brake pads by a local mechanic?

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Wed 18 Nov 2020 17:38
Ford Fiesta - Squealing / squeaking tyres or brake discs? - Andrew-T

How much is it likely to cost to replace front brake pads by a local mechanic?

Cost of pads plus £40-80 labour, depending on their hourly rate.

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Wed 18 Nov 2020 23:15
Ford Fiesta - Squealing / squeaking tyres or brake discs? - edlithgow

Pretty easy and quick (DIY) job.

Unless you do it properly, cleaning and llubricating the calipers, in which case itt'll take a bit longer and you'd need a spanner or two more.

Dunno how likely it is your local mechanic will do all that, though..

Edited by edlithgow on 18/11/2020 at 23:52

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Thu 19 Nov 2020 10:38
Ford Fiesta - Squealing / squeaking tyres or brake discs? - Bolt

Unless you do it properly, cleaning and llubricating the calipers, in which case itt'll take a bit longer and you'd need a spanner or two more.

Plenty of help on you tube doing this, so no excuse not to do it properly, its best to anyway as it can end up costing more time and effort in redoing it all if you get a problem...good luck

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Sat 5 Dec 2020 23:38
Ford Fiesta - Squealing / squeaking tyres or brake discs? - clappedout

My front brakes are apparently fine and the rears have had a clean out.

On the short drives I've had locally, I haven't noticed any squealing if I've not exceeded say 30-40mph.

I think the squealing only kicks in after driving for more than 10-15 mins and with speeds at / above 50mph (with subsequent harder braking / hot pads/discs?).

Is there a logical explanation re. my above experiences? Is there something else at play here, or just the front brakes need a proper clean? I guess if front pads were low, it'd screech at low speeds too?

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Sun 6 Dec 2020 09:43
Ford Fiesta - Squealing / squeaking tyres or brake discs? - Andrew-T

Is there a logical explanation re. my above experiences? Is there something else at play here, or just the front brakes need a proper clean? I guess if front pads were low, it'd screech at low speeds too?

Way back, some brake pads were fitted with 'anti-squeal shims'. I never knew what they were all about, but perhaps your brakes need some ?

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Sun 6 Dec 2020 12:22
Ford Fiesta - Squealing / squeaking tyres or brake discs? - Bolt

My front brakes are apparently fine and the rears have had a clean out.

Can I ask whether they were inspected by eye, or, were they stripped down and cleaned/greased- as you just said apparently fine- which suggests they were looked at by eye?

and you cannot tell by eye if there is a problem, they need stripping for Squeal problems

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Sun 6 Dec 2020 17:49
Ford Fiesta - Squealing / squeaking tyres or brake discs? - clappedout

Yes, they were visually inspected as part of MOT

Is it an easy job by any mechanic? How much would it cost me to get this looked at / sorted?

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Sun 6 Dec 2020 19:23
Ford Fiesta - Squealing / squeaking tyres or brake discs? - Bolt

A visual inspection is not going to sort squeeling brake, a mechanic should be able to prevent it happening but will depend on make of pads fitted but they can only try

Depends on hourly rate but should only take about half an hour to remove clean and grease where necessary, they used to supply shims to go between pad and piston which absorbed the vibration the pad/disc created which caused the noise/squeel

They used a compound to replace the shim but not all pads had it on them(may have changed now) but that was what the shim plate was for, years ago fitters left them off to speed the job up not knowing what they did and thought them a waste of time fitting....the customer found out the hard way what they were for, though most didn't know they were not fitted...

And i said fitters not mechanics as they would have fitted as needed in my experience

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