Damper plates in rear caliper question
 

Morning all,

Have some brake work done (as there was alot of clicking and squeaking coming from rear brakes)...changing the pads (repainted calipers, etc).

I noticed that the front calipers had damping pads...but the rears did not? Maybe this is why all the brake drama in back. Maybe not..?!??!?!...the old pads seem smaller then the replacements that I got...so maybe pads were too small in the caliper and were moving around a bit.

First off, are these damping pads really needed? Are there alternate shims or anti-squeak options that have proven effective.

Ideally, I want to add the damping pads....but not sure of the size I need to order....this would have have to be all 8 dampers for both rear calipers....this is for an 89 S4.

Thanks all

Ken

I just changed my fluid and pads two months ago. I have the dampeners and pads that are supposed to be quite. The brakes squeal . Prior to the pad change I had no sound from the brakes with the same dampeners. Could be the pads or the wear on the dampeners. If the dampeners are old you could get some replacements. I think I'm going to try that and maybe some copper grease .

I just went through this damper thing and they are definitely optional. Ant squeak is all you need, but I guess dampers are better:

Attachment 537626

I just reused my old pads and opted not to use dampers (only 12 of 16 fit... 87 has an odd sized front piston). I haven't had any squeaking problems using this stuff:

Attachment 537627

I've had some success reusing the damper pads, gluing them to the backs of the new pads with hi-temp silicone adhesive. The little damper pads with the clips pull the pads clear of the spinning rotor, not only getting them back so they don't squeak but also cutting down on glazing. Since we have the relatively simple option of using them, exercise that option if you can.

That said, there are other lesser options like the anti-squeal goo products. I say lesser because their purpose is to dampen the pad vibrations that you hear as squeal, but they don't actually draw the pads back much if at all. Ditto on the little pads you see sometimes, especially as OEM solutions on 'murrican cars. They are cheap and easy to add, and so are effective for the car builders.


Essential to having any of these solutions work is having clean calipers, specifically clean where the pads ride on the caliper frames. On the 4-piston Brembo calipers on the 86.5+ cars, the contact areas include removable spring/wear plates that the corners of the pad ride against. These need to be clean especially behind the pads. Usually a blast of compressed air will do the job, but sometimes a little more aggression is needed. The plates are removable with care, but more than a few folks have reported that the screw heads give up before they can be removed.


There are lots of opinions on whether rotors need to be turned when replacing pads. The pros will tell you that they always resurface or replace rotors, so they can manage the number of comebacks they get from customers with noisy brakes. Makes sense for them, maybe less for DIY owners with a $500+/set rotor habit. Nonetheless, a nice consistent rotor surface is required for proper initial pad break-in.

And that takes us to the last paragraph, where I recommend that the pad break-in procedure recommended by the pad supplier is followed religiously. In the wayback days, pads were gently broken in during the first few hundred miles. No hard braking, no extended braking that might cause the pad materials to glaze. I guess it took a few heat cycles to fully cure the resins holding the pad compounds together. Fast forward to the latest set of pads ready to go on the car. Break-in is a series of hard braking applications that seem targeted more at getting the pads seated in the caliper and bedded to the rotor as soon as possible. Most likely to make sure that they retract clear of the rotor correctly too, and don't glaze and squeal. Which loops us nicely back to the first paragraph above, and the need for the damper pads...

I'm doing brakes now and am going to replace all of the dampers, pads, sensors and rotors. Before removal the car sounded like a Burlington Northern box car rolling through a Pittsburgh steel yard. Some of the dampers were still attached to the pads and some weren't, and one outside corner had the orange goo treatment between the dampers and pads - still made a lot of noise.

So for me, compressed air, a toothbrush, and a little caliper grease per the WSM. Hopefully I won't be sorry :icon501:

I had a dust shield get a little bent out of shape and started rubbing against the rotor. So that might be a source especially if it’s constant (as in brakes on or off) and tinny sounding.

I have had luck using comet to stop a squeak. Mix with water to make a paste and apply to the rotor. If it makes a rattling noise the you need dampers to hold the pad in place.

Thanks all!

Some good input here.

I think I will try the 'no damper plates' in back route and see if it works out. Worst case scenario...I will do it again with the plates (always looking for an excuse to have shark on jack stands .....AGAIN!)

ken

I haven't had the dampers on my brake pads for the last 10 years. If I get more one squeak a month out of the brakes I'd be surprised. I put a small amount of antiseize paste on the backing plate only where it touches the pistons tops and the tabs the pad rests against. No problem.

So much depends on what pads you use and how you use them. IIRC, Bill mentioned on the way to OCIC a couple summers ago that he had put in the Axxis/PBR Metal Master pads and really liked them. I've had the same pads in for most of the last dozen years. Maybe the no-squeek syndrome will go away when I change to the PBR ceramics. Bill, are you still running the Metal Master pads?