My buddy leases a new Caddy SUV. Very low miles and easy driving short tripping around town. Started hearing intermittent noise from front wheel when driving and not applying brakes. Took it in and dealer said pads are glazed and glazing will go away as the pads wear. I thought glazing came from high temperatures due to hard braking or a sticky caliper. Also, once pads are glazed, braking capacity is diminished causing a safety issue. Does the glazing explanation sound right? Should the pads be replaced or at least deglazed? Thanks.
Glazed Pads
- Thread starter artbuc
- Start date
AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2024
Based on what I know is the pads need to be replaced. I’ve never heard of it going away as it wears.
Not going to change w/o doing something differently. He could try re-bedding; I have had that work with lightly glazed pads. Perhaps he rides his brakes a bit in town so much? That would cause it.
Clear road, do some HARD stops 60 down to 30. Drive back up to 60 and repeat, with about a mile in between to cool down a bit. Do it eight to 10 times.
Also need to check if rotors are glazed, too. But nothing is going to fix itself.
Clear road, do some HARD stops 60 down to 30. Drive back up to 60 and repeat, with about a mile in between to cool down a bit. Do it eight to 10 times.
Also need to check if rotors are glazed, too. But nothing is going to fix itself.
"dealer said pads are glazed and glazing will go away as the pads wear"
They just don't wanna make a warranty claim for brakes
They just don't wanna make a warranty claim for brakes
The pads probably have rust from the rotors embedded in them - or the chamfer is worn and they're noisy when flat.
Try giving them a blast with brake cleaner between the pads/rotor and then re-bedding them.
Try giving them a blast with brake cleaner between the pads/rotor and then re-bedding them.
Worked for me. Hard braking about 10 times and cool off at end. Have to do this regularly with my Akebono performance pads.
I've had the best success with removing the pads and dragging them across 80 grit sandpaper, then reassembling. Of course, the contact points and slide pins should be cleaned and greased, if applicable.
you can also use 80 grit on the discs to help bedding in again.
From my time at VW that was an approved procedure for people complaining about a low speed squeal.
Never believed in losing pad material for a squeal though.
Similar to the 80 grit suggestions, I usually drag the pads across concrete that was brushed like a sidewalk.
You're supposed to re-bed the brakes and use them properly after, though. Otherwise why bother?
Exactly.
Thx for responses. My friend was given a Service Bulletin which perfectly described his symptoms. Cadillac says intermittent noise when vehicle is first driven is due to problem with pad material and that engineers are working on a fix. Caddy issued a similar bulletin a couple years ago for rear brakes. The service writer who told him pads were glazed didn’t know what he talking about...a real shock, right? Hard to believe Caddy can’t get brake pad material right...go figure.
I feel like this is as good a time as any to relate a statement from an unnamed Porsche engineer:
"Europeans don't care if their brakes make noise, as long as they stop. Americans don't care if their brakes stop, as long as they are quiet."
"Europeans don't care if their brakes make noise, as long as they stop. Americans don't care if their brakes stop, as long as they are quiet."
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