Anything and everything Spitfire.

General Spitfire messages

Hi one and all, hope you are enjoying the start of the new season as much as I am!

Wonder if anyone could offer some advice to a relative newbie with (I hope) a relatively simple problem!

When my Spit ('77 1500) gets warmed up I get particularly bad break squeal. It doesn't happen when the car is cold, only after it's warmed up and it doesn't matter whether the breaks are applied or not.

It also only seems to happen when I turn the car slightly in one or other direction. If I travel in a dead straight line it doesn't happen, and when I turn the wheel more than (approx) 90 degrees it eases off. But when making slight adjustments it sounds like a London Taxi slowing down!!

It mainly occurs whilst driving below 30mph, and then eases up to 40 when the noise stops altogether. It sounds to be coming from the front wheels, but there is more than 1 'squeal' suggesting it could be both wheels.

Assuming it is the breaks, they were bled recently during a service (100 miles ago) and the pads and disks look relatively new (fitted before my time, but not worn).

Apologies if this is simple, but not being an expert it's starting to drive me mad, apart from sounding nasty!!

Could anyone offer advice as to what/where I should check for wear or replacement?

Cheers!

John
'77 Signal Red 1500

There should be an "anti-squeal shim" between the pad and the caliper piston (a thin bit of metal basically). Is this present and not all rusted away?

If it's the brakes, I would expect it to disappear if they are applied fairly firmly. So it may not necessarily be them.

One thing to check is that there is nothing (stone or gravel etc) caught between the disc and the back plate or caliper - this can make a fearsome noise and is quite common (especially if, like me, you have a gravel driveway).

Thanks for your help guys, apologies for my delayed response to your suggestions, I was awaiting some parts.

Having inspected the front breaks it was apparent the anti squeal shims had perished/rusted/vanished so I have fitted new ones (the parts I was waiting for).

The squealing has reduced considerably (with the aid of some break cleaning/anti-squeal spray as well), although there is still some minor noise, but this goes when the break pedal is applied or touched very lightly.

I have also noticed that as I use my Spit more in the warmer days the noise seems to improve each time, suggesting that all she wants is to be used more often than a once or twice a week excursion.

Cheers

John

1977 1500 (less squealy!)

Hi John,
The fact you get a squeal on turning suggests that movement of the wheelbearings might be partially responsible, though the other comments about the anti-squeal shims are perfectly relevant.
Cheers,
Bill.

John

I think Bill is on the right track here, wheel bearings can only be adjusted up so much. After a while the bearing can be so worn that the disc starts moving inboard and gets very close to the caliper edge, slight turning motion pushes the disc over and hence squeal.

Tim

Willow Triumph

Section : General

Squealing to Insanity!!

Followups :

Squealing to Insanity!!

Squealing to Insanity!!

Squealing to Insanity!!

Squealing to Insanity!!

Squealing to Insanity!!