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With over 27 years in the automotive industry and nearly a decade in automotive talk radio, Tom Torbjornsen makes learning about cars easy with his personal manner, his expert advice, and his high energy and entertaining style. Tom has the unique gift of simplifying the complex and tearing down the technical, meeting you at your level of understanding. You will be encouraged as you gain the confidence to deal with problems related to the second most expensive purchase you will make in a lifetime - your automobile.

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Posts with tag brakes

Brake Squeal After New Brakes

Dear Tom,
I own a 2006 Malibu LS. I recently had the front and rear rotors and pads replaced, as well as the rear calipers. About 750 miles later the brakes started squealing (very pronounced). The rotors cost $46-52 each; the pads cost $50 each; and the calipers were $79 each. I brought the car back to shop once, and they 'cleaned the brakes up.' Brakes were quiet for only two days, and started squealing again. Any solutions?
- Lincoln, NE

Answer:
Brake squeal is the result of a high-pitched vibration of the brake pads. Either the pad anti-rattle clips are worn, or were not re-installed, or the pad insulator shims were not re-installed at the time of the brake job. Get it back into the shop and have these checked. Once you stop the vibration, you stop the squeal!!
Tom

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