SCREECHING BRAKES!

[mdsalemi]

Even with just barely moving, setting the Pagoda in the garage, my brakes are screeching like a wounded animal.
Maybe I should look at the pads this weekend...what do you think? It's only been 20,000 miles and 20 years...

[Cees Klumper]

Maybe something got stuck in there Michael, it's too early for the pads to be worn out I would say.

[JamesL]

I ride a piaggio scooter and the front brake has alway squealed. The boss hates it but I find it really useful as an audible warning signal to other road users.
But would be annoying in my pagoda

[mdsalemi]

This rather intense squealing and screeching is fairly new, just this year, though I have not put many miles on the car this year. I think I will pull off at least one wheel and take a look.

[gtait]

This happened to my wife’s Mini about three months ago. Turned out to be a rock lodged in by the brake pad.

I always need to remind myself to check the simplest thing first.

Gil

[rwmastel]

Maybe your lovely assistant can narrow down which wheel it's happening on, or maybe it's the parking brake.

[mdsalemi]

Narrowing the sound down to one or more wheels might be a good idea, but it’s probably also a good idea to just pull off the wheels one by one and give a good look at the condition of the brake pads and rotors.
I’m from Michigan and haven’t used a parking brake in probably 40 years! Everywhere I’ve ever been has been flat as a board. This includes my daily drivers as well.

[WRe]

Hi,
if the brake pads are already that old, the squeak comes from a glazed, hard and smooth surface of the pads. If the pads still have enough material, you can roughen them up a bit with sandpaper. To do this, rub the pads on a smooth surface over the sandpaper. Don't forget to coat the backs with copper or ceramic paste.
Otherwise renew the pads, because they are quite inexpensive (<20$). Since last year I'am using TRW Cotec pads in all of my cars.
https://www.trwaftermarket.com/en/catalogue/#market=de&vehicleType=P&manufacturerId=74&modelId=538&vehicleId=%7C722&variantId=722&productGroupId=402
...WRe