I have what seems to be a common problem with squeaky brakes on my 166Ts. The noise comes from my rear (left) when the brakes are not applied. If i apply the brakes slightly the noise goes away. It is the same if i gently tug at the handbrake. If i slam on the brakes at motorway speed the noise goes away for a few days but it always comes back.
Quite normal. You need to put some stuff on the brake pads, but I've forgotten the name of it - a sort of gunk that's not a lubricant. Someone will be a long to name it shortly I'm sure! My local Alfa dealer did it for me when my 147's brakes were squeeling in the same way as you describe. Once this stuff was applied, the squeeling never returned.
I have the same problem with my car I know copper ease applied to the back of the pads normally solves the problem on other cars but I'm not sure if it will work on the 166 as I believe the problem is caused by the very hard compound Alfa uses when I get my car back from having it's exhaust fitted I'm going to give it a go & let you know the results (That's if I can still hear the brakes over the exhaust as I looked at it before dropping it off & the rear box is a straight through job )
my near side rear is the same - suspect that it's a slightly sticky handbrake mechanism that's causing it...went away after i put new pads and discs on but it's back now...
Check out the condition of the brake pad. I had exactly the same noise on the nearside rear. It was cured by replacing a worn brake pad, some 6 months ago. No further noise experienced.
You can get a bit of uneven edge where the disc wears down if you've replaced pads but not the discs themselves but it isn't that common.
Change the discs.
More likely is a build up of small particles of brake dust getting trapped and casuing a harmonic resonance. The non-asbestos linings now used are worse for this than of old. A partial clearing or rearrangement of the mass of particles is occurring when you dab the brakes hard. Cleaning the pads and callipers then applying some copperslip to the back of the pads is the answer.
Don't get it on the surface of the pads or discs!:tut:
Some people chafe off the edge of the pad, if it's being mated with old disc's. This stops it from rubbing/touching the lip that gets created on the edge of the disc over time.
Another annoying noise you can get is a scrapping sound when turning a corner, this I found was the brake dust cover at the bottom of the hub carrier, had become partially detached and was catching the rear of the disc.
Check out the condition of the brake pad. I had exactly the same noise on the nearside rear. It was cured by replacing a worn brake pad, some 6 months ago. No further noise experienced.
Have had the same problem, in the end turned out the caliper was sticking slightly and causing the pad to rub on the disk. Had the caliper reconditioned(Alfa wanted 155+vat for a new one) along with new disks and pads, problem solved.
your brakes need complete service, new pads(old ones refitted not good), clean caliper thoroughly with brake cleaner and make sure there is no crap on the edges where the pads sit, remove rust from disc edges by spinning and using screwdriver to hone off.
if you can, pump out piston and replace rubber seals with extreme caution and cleanliness. copper grease all contact surfaces between caliper/piston/pads but not between disc/pads obviously.
And dont forget to run pads in for a while to bed them in, otherwise you'll be back to square one.
my pads and discs are only a couple of thousand miles old so i don't think that's the problem.....think the sticky handbrake of seized caliper is the problem - hopefully get a chance to see at the weekend.
Had the local garage do it. Car was off the road for longer ~ 4 days, but as I can get the train to and from work at the moment, it wasnt a big deal. Not sure where they sent the caliper for recon though.
ah right - prob easiest buying an exchange one...discovered that the 156 piston bitty of the caliper is the same and their pretty easy to get hold of...
I had a squeaking front brake a year or so ago. The car had been off the road for a couple of years; the defect I subsequently diagnosed was a sticky front brake calliper. I put this down to two reasons - 1) the piston becoming seized due corrosion caused by moisture absorbed over time in the brake fluid, moisture in the atmosphere, and ingress through a small hole in the rubber boot ; and 2) the fact that it had been stood for so long - with no exercise. I've had the same problem on other cars in the past, and have generally freed off he piston by removing the pad, and gently squeezing the piston back into the cylinder with a piece of timber. Then, pop the pad (or even better a worn pad) back in, and apply the brake pedal to push out the piston again. Repeat several times, and the piston will hopefully free off a bit. Take care for brake fluid overflows from the reservoir when pressing back the piston, though; and don't press the brake pedal down without something between the piston and disc!
Anyway - on the 164 this trick did not work; the piston freed a bit - but I still had the squeak. So the solution was an overhauled caliper from AlfaShop in Norwich. An exchange calliper was, I think, in the order of 50 quid (you send 'em back the old one). AlfaShop I found gave absolutely excellent service by the way. So hopefully you'll be able to get one for your 166 from them. Good luck anyway...!
I think the odd shaped spring like piece of metal on the outside of the caliper is the anti squeal part of the caliper, can be got from dealers for a few ££££`s.
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