Touching break pedal makes high pitch screach? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Nevalite · 05-29-2008, 04:42 PM

Hey,

Every time I put my foot on the break, even just lightly press it down, I hear a high pitch screach or something coming from what seems to be my front right break or wheel area. I can literally just start pressing the pedal, before its even slowing the car down, and the noise will start.

Any ideas what this could be? Easy fix?

Heat · 05-29-2008, 05:02 PM

Mine ('95 LE) does the same thing. I've taken it to my mechanic twice, he just says that it's a sticky caliper. He cleans it off and it's fine for a little while, then starts back up.

Black95Cam · 05-29-2008, 05:04 PM

check the brake pads/shoe (if you have drums in the rear)

shajbot · 05-29-2008, 05:11 PM

It means it's working lol. Any if the other people drive around they will know you're braking to react accordingly. It's 2 usefulnesses.

Nevalite · 05-29-2008, 05:27 PM

It's a '92 Camry, is it possible I have drums all around? Or do I have to have disks in the front? Simply cleaning it will fix it?

Thanks

sbushnak · 05-29-2008, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black95Cam

check the brake pads/shoe (if you have drums in the rear)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nevalite

It's a '92 Camry, is it possible I have drums all around? Or do I have to have disks in the front? Simply cleaning it will fix it?

Thanks

If you have the 5SFE 2.2, you have front discs and rear drums. If you have the V6 3VZFE, you would have discs all around.

Black95Cam is suggesting to check the pads in front and shoes at back. Not a bad idea.

Since you are saying that it's a loud screeching sound, cleaning would not fix the problem. My friend had the same thing and he had to replace the front pads because they were worn to the metal!

Mike Gerber · 05-29-2008, 06:05 PM

The front disc pads may be worn down to the pad wear indicators. Pad wear indicators are little metal tangs that are designed to contact the rotors and make a high pitched noise, when the pads wear down to the point where they need to be changed. There are other things that can cause break squeak, but this is the most likely cause if it came on suddenly and the break pads have been on the car for a period of time. Have someone check the thickness of the front brake pads.

Mike

Snowball3 · 05-29-2008, 06:47 PM

what mike says. DO SOME CAR MANTAINANCE!! simply by taking care of your car you will have no problems what so ever. its easy to do. oh and heat, change mechanics.

ok im done.

SkinnyConHeo · 05-29-2008, 08:56 PM

When my 1999 Camry Le starts doing that it means it's time to change out the pads.

After I change the pads the sounds go away. Happens about once a year.

Mike Gerber · 05-30-2008, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nevalite

It's a '92 Camry, is it possible I have drums all around? Or do I have to have disks in the front? Simply cleaning it will fix it?

Thanks

Front disk brakes became mandatory here in the US starting with model year 1977. Not sure about Canada.

Also, if your car has the optional antilock brakes and it has the 4 cylinder 5SFE engine, you will have 4 wheel disks. If the car is a 4 cylinder and is not equiped with antilock brakes, you will have front disks and rear drums. If it is a V6, you will also have 4 wheel disks.

Mike

Nevalite · 05-30-2008, 09:52 PM

Hey,

I talked with the mechanic that lives in front of me and he said exactly what mike said, tomorrow we'll be checking the pads and installing some new ones

Thanks guys

sbushnak · 05-31-2008, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

Also, if your car has the optional antilock brakes and it has the 4 cylinder 5SFE engine, you will have 4 wheel disks. If the car is a 4 cylinder and is not equiped with antilock brakes, you will have front disks and rear drums. If it is a V6, you will also have 4 wheel disks.

Mike

my 97 5SFE with ABS has front discs and rear drums. I thought I had 4 discs but I checked today and it had rear drums. Time for rear disc conversion! Good thing my ABS works.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nevalite

Hey,

I talked with the mechanic that lives in front of me and he said exactly what mike said, tomorrow we'll be checking the pads and installing some new ones

Thanks guys

Get some ceramic brake pads and while you're at it, resurface the front discs. If they cannot be resurfaced, replace them with new ones.

google some information to have an idea about brakes.

Mike Gerber · 06-01-2008, 03:45 PM

"my 97 5SFE with ABS has front discs and rear drums. I thought I had 4 discs but I checked today and it had rear drums. Time for rear disc conversion! Good thing my ABS works."

The original poster has a 92 Camry. At the time the generation 3 Camrys were manufactured (1992-1996), I don't believe the technology exhisted to do antilock brakes with rear drums. That's just my eductated guess. When you opted for ABS brakes on a generation 3 Camry 4 cylinder, the rears had to be upgraded to discs. It was also an expensive option. I ordered my 1994 Camry 4 cylinder XLE with ABS. It was an $1100 option back then. By the time the generation 4 Camrys came around in 1997 the technology had changed. The generation 4 Camry 4 cylinder cars then came with front discs and rear drums with ABS.

Mike

FishyMan · 06-02-2008, 12:40 AM

The best thing is to change your rotors/pads and observe it and go from there.

Screech and weird sounds are not normal IMO. Just make sure you have fresh brake fluid and new rotors and new pads installed properly. Sometimes high pitch sounds are indication that pads need to be changed.