Squeaky Brakes - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

kerplunk · 08-17-2009, 08:43 PM

Hey guys,

Took my '03 Boxster to a local Porsche authorized dealer/service place and asked them about my incredibly squeaky brakes. They told me that Boxsters are notorious for having very squeaky brakes... even in brand new models. Is this true, or do they not know what they are talking about? I find it hard to believe that squeaky brakes on a Boxster cannot be fixed long-term.

Along those lines, does anyone know what is costs to replace whatever is causing the squeaking? (Brake pads? Rotors? I don't know, I'm not really a car guy. Just a car lover.

)

sd_boxster · 08-17-2009, 09:55 PM

If they squeak a little under light braking but quiet down under hard braking, that's normal.

If they do not quiet down under heavy braking, that's not normal.

Changing out my plain front rotors with drilled rotors (and new factory pads) has eliminated the squeaking for me, at least for the past thousand-odd miles.

Bladecutter · 08-18-2009, 08:04 AM

My '98 has never had squeaky brakes.
Not the original brakes that were on the car that set off the brake wear warning light and had one heck of a ridge on the rotors, nor the all new OEM pads and rotors that I installed on the car to replace the ones that came off.

What are the condition of the rotors, and what brand brake pads are you using on your car? The OEM stuff should be perfectly quiet. I'm using Zimmerman solid rotors front and rear, along with Textar pads, and I've done 2 track days at HPR on them over the past 8k miles.

BC.

kerplunk · 08-18-2009, 01:06 PM

OK, I think something needs replacing then, because they squeak louder when I press harder... if I do it lightly then I can kind of mask the noise, but it sucks having to drive with the feeling that you can't stop because of how loud and obnoxious the noise is. I'm going to take it in to a shop. Any authorized Porsche dealership should be good right? I'm in Tampa, FL.

I don't know any technical details about the situation or I would respond to your guys' questions. I appreciate the help though

Dave S. · 08-18-2009, 02:05 PM

No squeaks what so ever with the brakes on my '03 S. I had really squeaky brakes on my TR8 and it was fixed by simply replacing the brake pads.

I'd expect any Porsche Dealer to be able to replace the pads and resurface the discs on your Boxster. I'd expect it will cost a small fortune.

Kirk · 08-18-2009, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sd_boxster

If they squeak a little under light braking but quiet down under hard braking, that's normal.

If they do not quiet down under heavy braking, that's not normal.

That's what my Boxster S does. Damn annoying. Then recently I bought a Carrera 4S and it does the same thing. Always seems to come from the passenger side rear on both cars. I just figure it's normal too. I've checked both cars, pads have plenty of life left in them and my rotors measured fine with a digital caliper. I'm not worried about the squeak, but it can be a little embarassing at times.

Heck if you've got a Les Schwab near you take the car there as they're doing free brake checks now. You don't have to be a Porsche dealer to tell if the rotors or pads are bad!

Kirk

Dave S. · 08-19-2009, 04:43 AM

Different brake pad material will be more prone to squeaking. The harder the pad, the more likely it is to squeak.

kerplunk · 08-23-2009, 01:11 PM

Just wanted to update you guys on this...

My brakes are beyond words. They are SO LOUD and the screeching sound is just unbelievable. I get physically angry every time I have to stop. It's very embarrassing when stopping in front of a crowd of people... so loud and obnoxious. First thing on Monday I am going to call the Porsche dealer here and I don't care what it costs to make the noise go away, it's getting fixed... no excuses. I guess a bigger reason I am upset is because the Porsche dealer in Fargo told me that it was normal for Boxsters to have brakes that screeched. I could have had this problem fixed then.

Anyway, with most things in life, if someone tells you something isn't possible, find a way to get it done, because most likely there is a way/solution.

Lil bastard · 08-23-2009, 02:00 PM

Have you tried sanding the discs with #40 paper and a wood block? Rough them up (both sides) and then re-bed the pads. If no joy, take a file and chamfer the leading edge of each pad 45°. I bet that takes care of it.