One brake squeaking, and was *very* hot. What do?

Ahleckz

Ahleckz

Ahleckz

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Joined
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I drove my Peugeot 3008 to Oban the other day. 2/3 of the way there, there was a fair bit of squeaking coming from the car. I pulled over, did the manly thing of walking around the car and breathing in deeply and then got back into the car reassuring the two female passengers that all was well.

Squeak came back a few minutes later, I pulled over. Poured some water over each alloy/brake. Nothing happened to 3 but a lot of steam came off one brake. After the water trick, the squeaking didn't come back and it didn't come back for the rest of the trip and I've driven 200+ miles since. The females were very impressed that I had fixed the problem and I explained it was just a male skill that we just intrinsically know.

But, I have no idea what caused the squeak and if the water helped. Should I get it down to a garage for them to take a look or do you think it'll be OK? Car has done 25k miles, and it's a 2010 plate.
 
Sounds like the brakes are sticking and rubbing when driving along normally. The only reason they will get hot like that is if they are rubbing against something all the time.

I don't know what to suggest as a fix but the issue is not a serious/expensive one, but you should get it sorted sooner rather than later.
 
Don't have a trolley jack/axle stand so can't do it myself I don't think. Wouldn't want to just do it on the jack you use to change the wheel.

I suppose I'll have to shell out for a garage to have a look. At least it doesn't seem like it's anything *too* bad at the minute!
 
Ahleckz said:
Don't have a trolley jack/axle stand so can't do it myself I don't think. Wouldn't want to just do it on the jack you use to change the wheel.

I suppose I'll have to shell out for a garage to have a look. At least it doesn't seem like it's anything *too* bad at the minute!
Click to expand...

It will be one of those jobs that a garage charges 30 mins or an hour for even though it takes them 15 mins tops. That said, even an hour labour at a backstreet garage shouldn't be more than £40+vat.
 
Needs to be stripped to tell for sure, options-

Seized calliper
Seized brake pads
Seized mounting slides
crimped brake hose
ABS fault
Foreign object interference
Worn out brakes


On stripping you may find that if the brakes have been overheated too severely new pads and discs would be required anyway, While probably a calliper if a calliper and pads and discs are required you could be looking around 1.3h and the average indy price in the UK is £50ph.


OpenToSuggestions- Any brake issue is a serious one.
 
I had a siezed calliper on the mx5, and I could feel the heat coming from it and the disc just by hovering my hand near. It was like an extreme radiator :p

So I bet you have a similar problem.
 
This is usually a sticking calliper. And a strip down and clean will often solve the issue.
This is especially so on floating clippers. Just re apply a bit of copper grease to the back of the pads and a small amount to the bolts that hold the calliper to the carrier.
Also it is not recommended to squirt water onto hot brakes the rapid change from hot to cold could crack or warp the disc. If you do need to check for heat use the back of your hand and you should be able to feel it, sometimes you can smell the heat to as daft as that sounds.
 
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