The brakes on my '99 D1 will squeal off and on (sometimes quite loudly) while driving down the road with my foot off the brake pedal. It will stop immediately and every time when I apply any amount of brake pressure. I bled the brakes and topped off the fluid, but still it squeals. Pads do look like it's about time for a change, but then why would the squeal go away when I apply pressure?

Thanks,
Pete

 

Could be contamination of pads with gunk, oil, etc., or a number of other things. Best step is to change pads, as you know you need them. While doing the work you may find other issues. Swivel's oil normal? Prop shafts zerk fittings lubed? I had rear pads 1/2 coated with oily grime - which Spike told me was brake dust and rear diff oil, the vent for rear axle was clogged an pressure was forcing oil out the seal and onto the rear hub.

 

brake caliper piston is stuck, might need to replace the caliper

 

A very good point also. When mine had that, it also wobbled. I decided on which one to work on first by "shooting" each brake disc with an infrared thermometer - and one was a lot hotter than the other on the same axle. The brake pads told the tale, one was worn down a great deal, and the other pad was normal.

If you have a sticking caliper, it can hold the pad against the rotor, adding heat and causing the rotor to warp as well.

So when you change the pads, you may find caliper problem as well.

 

or just drive around your block a few times stop your car and smell your tires. The burning smell is your sticking caliper. Remember to replace both front and rear calipers at a time too and to use new pads when you replace them.

 

Tupelo?!?!? My daughter goes to MSU and loves it! Goes to school with a kid from Tupelo. Great part of the country for sure. Been to Elvis's birthplace...awesome. Is that auto museum off of 45 any good?

And Savannah?!?!? Another slice of heaven! LOVE Savannah. Been there several times for racing at Roebling Road and a family trip a year and a half ago. Actually thinking about moving there someday.

Thanks for the help, guys. Sounds logical and consistent with what's going on. I'll check all that.

 

I'm going there maybe next year, college beckons :]

but I'm not a tuples kid, Houston tx born and raised haha
his birthplace was interesting, basically a shack and the tuples auto museum is really cool

 

A loose brake pad can cause this too.
It can move just enough to touch the rotor and make noise, then once you apply brake pressure it gets pushed back into its place.
I had a rear pad do the same thing, after hitting a big bump it would move and squeal, apply the brakes and it went away until the next big bump.
I lived with it (after a inspection to confirm) and it went away after a few months.

 

Thats why when you install your brake pads they come with the rattle/squeal hardware. The 2 pins and springs or the little metal square piece and the 2 pins.

 

Really? NO WAY!!
Without those "spring clips" your brake pads will fall out, they do not hold them to the sides.