Another squeaky brake thread

I'm the proud owner of a 1993 SL2. I bought it used last year (I
prefer the pre-1995 Saturns), and it's just over 100K. Recently (a
week and a half ago), there's been a squeaky sound coming from my left
front wheel when I brake. It's *slightly* arrythmic. It also
sometimes occurs when I back up, without the brakes being applied, but
it's almost always present when braking.

I'm not too hip on wasting money on mechanics, so I took the wheel off
to check it out myself, but I really am not that knowledgeable about
disc brakes.....
Anyway, I discovered--
- The left wheel's brake pads are significantly more worn down than the
right, and the left one squeaks if I manually turn the rotor.
- The rotor wiggles, just a little bit (equal to or less than 2mm at
the edge). Is this normal? I failed to check against the right wheel.
- The pads seem to --ever so slightly-- grip the rotor.
- Disc brakes aren't as scary as I thought they were. They look almost
as easy as drum brakes to replace!

My girlfriend (equally knowledgeable about disc brakes) seems to think
it's a return spring problem, but I didn't think disc brakes used a
return spring....

So, to sum it all up, here's my collected questions--
Why does it squeak in reverse, or why does it squeak without the brakes
being depressed?
Why does the rotor wiggle, and is it normal?
Why is one sides brake pads more worn down than the other?

Thank you in advance, and I hope my information has been good enough to
tell what's happening.

Possibly a sticking caliper from your description of the worn pads on only
the side that is squeaking. Solution is a new caliper (may want to replace
both fronts if you are keeping the vehicle), bleeding the brakes, and new
fluid. May also be a good idea to do the brake pads and machine or replace
the rotors at the same time.

Bob


"Tokay" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> I'm the proud owner of a 1993 SL2. I bought it used last year (I
> prefer the pre-1995 Saturns), and it's just over 100K. Recently (a
> week and a half ago), there's been a squeaky sound coming from my left
> front wheel when I brake. It's *slightly* arrythmic. It also
> sometimes occurs when I back up, without the brakes being applied, but
> it's almost always present when braking.

"Tokay" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> I'm the proud owner of a 1993 SL2. I bought it used last year (I
> prefer the pre-1995 Saturns),

Why?

>and it's just over 100K.

Miles / km?

probably ready for new brake pads and rotors.

> Recently (a
> week and a half ago), there's been a squeaky sound coming from my left
> front wheel when I brake. It's *slightly* arrythmic. It also
> sometimes occurs when I back up, without the brakes being applied, but
> it's almost always present when braking.
>
> I'm not too hip on wasting money on mechanics, so I took the wheel off
> to check it out myself, but I really am not that knowledgeable about
> disc brakes.....

Get a manual, Chiltons is thicker than Haynes.

> Anyway, I discovered--
> - The left wheel's brake pads are significantly more worn down than the
> right, and the left one squeaks if I manually turn the rotor.

Did you rebolt the rotor?

Remove the caliper, suspend with wire to spring to protect hose (mounting
bolts may be difficult use good quality wrench)
Inspect brake pads, make sure that they are not worn down to the rivets or
the wear indicator (designed to squeak or more likely squeal when worn to
replacement limit)
If the outer pad is more worn it is an indication the caliper is not sliding
freely. Clean any corrosion from caliper mounting holes and bolts. Always
use high temp never-seize on bolts and caliper holes when reinstalling.

> - The rotor wiggles, just a little bit (equal to or less than 2mm at
> the edge). Is this normal? I failed to check against the right wheel.

Did you reinstal wheel bolts to clamp rotor before this test? It is the
wheel that clamps the rotor in position.

While you have the caliper and pads removed, reinstall the wheel and spin
test to listen and feel for bad wheel bearing.
Slop or lateral movement or rolling noise will be indications of worn
bearing.

> - The pads seem to --ever so slightly-- grip the rotor.

May be normal (pads are designed to drag lightly to keep rotor clean and
dry) or an indication of sticky caliper mounting bolts or internally
corroded caliper piston.

> - Disc brakes aren't as scary as I thought they were. They look almost
> as easy as drum brakes to replace!

Easier

> My girlfriend (equally knowledgeable about disc brakes) seems to think
> it's a return spring problem, but I didn't think disc brakes used a
> return spring....

No return spring on disc brakes.

While you have come this far you should consider replacing the pads and use
NEW rotors.

Do NOT attempt to turn the old rotors. These rotors are prone to warping
and need all the thickness that they have. New (cheap / offshore) rotors
are not much more expensive than the cost of turning which is not cost
effective. Use good quality pads.

CHANGING the brake fluid (by complete bleeding with piston pushed completely
back in bore with C clamp) would be a good idea as fluid is hydroscopic and
has probably absorbed water which will cause caliper piston bore corrosion.
Do not use fluid from a previously opened container.

> So, to sum it all up, here's my collected questions--
> Why does it squeak in reverse, or why does it squeak without the brakes
> being depressed?

Wear indicator.

> Why does the rotor wiggle, and is it normal?

Bad wheel bearing or non clamped rotor.

> Why is one sides brake pads more worn down than the other?

If outside pad is more worn indicates corrosion on caliper mounting bolts.
If inside pad is more worn than the outer then the mounting bolts are
probably seized AND the caliper piston bore corroded.

> Thank you in advance, and I hope my information has been good enough to
> tell what's happening.

YMMV
Happy trails

Thanks a lot. That's all very helpful for me.

No, I didn't re-attach the lug nuts, it never occurred to me that the
rotor was held in place by the wheel...Should have been obvious,
though. How else would you easily change them?

Well, I'm taking it in today to have the brakes looked at. Definitely
at least going to get new pads, and see what needs to be done from
there. I'd do it myself, but I have kind of an automotive "black
thumb."
If I don't know PRECISELY what I'm doing, I screw something else up in
the process of repair.
Brakes are easy, and while I do have a Chilton manual, most of my tools
are 3 states away at my parent's house.


Thanks for all the help