Rear driver side brakes making awful creaking sound

[bdbull]

Our 2015 Tahoe has a terrible creaking sound from the rear driver side. Doesn't appear to affect anything, but just sounds awful. I cannot figure out what is causing it or how to fix it. I ran across another thread here with a similar problem that turned out to be the parking brake cable. Not sure if that is my problem, but if so I'm not even sure how to fix that. Anyway, here is a video I took last night of me pumping the brake pedal back and forth a little. When I took the tire off and put my head down near the rotor, it actually sounded like it was coming from the caliper.

https://imgur.com/a/3sxgrf0

 

[Rygrego]

Removed

 

[Joseph Garcia]

What are the condition of the pads. On some pads, there is a metal piece on the pad (warning indicator) that rubs on the rotor, when the pad thickness reduces to a certain point.

 

[bdbull]

What are the condition of the pads. On some pads, there is a metal piece on the pad (warning indicator) that rubs on the rotor, when the pad thickness reduces to a certain point.

The pads are good. Just checked them when I rotated the tires and they aren't even close to the squealer.

It makes the sound when the car is not even moving. The video was of the car sitting in the garage and me pumping the brake pedal just to get it to make the sound.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Understood. Perhaps there is insufficient lube on the caliper alignment pins or on the outer edges of the pads themselves.

 

[OR VietVet]

Understood. Perhaps there is insufficient lube on the caliper alignment pins or on the outer edges of the pads themselves.

Yea, sounds like dry movement of caliper and/or hardware. Especially since you are not moving. Looks like a little rust in there. Live in a salt on roads state?

 

[B-train]

I had this EXACT sound on my 2017 with about 125k on it when I replaced the brakes. Pull the caliper off, clean the hardware clips and mating surfaces, lube the slide pins, and put a smear of high temp silicone on the backing of the pads where they contact the caliper. Noise will go away

 

[bdbull]

I had this EXACT sound on my 2017 with about 125k on it when I replaced the brakes. Pull the caliper off, clean the hardware clips and mating surfaces, lube the slide pins, and put a smear of high temp silicone on the backing of the pads where they contact the caliper. Noise will go away

I just did this exact same thing to them except I use copper anti-seize on the clips and pad contact points.

It sounds very similar to a bed creaking or a metal spring. I'm thinking I might rebuild the calipers to see if that helps. I recently did that on my Avalanche with a stuck caliper. Just need to figure out the part numbers now.

 

[bdbull]

Yea, sounds like dry movement of caliper and/or hardware. Especially since you are not moving. Looks like a little rust in there. Live in a salt on roads state?

No salt here in North Georgia. That rust color is the copper anti-seize I put on the back of the pads.

 

[91RS]

Calipers. Very common. Nothing to do with the bracket or pins. The piston in the bore is making the noise.

 

[petethepug]

It’s Moo’g. Some brake shoe and disc combo are more prone to it. Little bit of grease on the back of the pads and on the ears of the pads as well as making sure the stainless anti squeal clips are installed should knock it off

 

[jyi786]

I personally had this issue, and it drove me up the wall. The rear brakes sounded like the old squeaky floorboard of a 200 year old house. I had even taken everything apart, lubed it up, made sure everything was functioning properly, bled the brake system, and it STILL was noisy.

What was the fix? A full brake job. New rotors, and the most important thing: new pads. I believe the old rear brake pads' backing plate warped causing the creaking. It is important to note that I was using Akebono ACTs when I normally used Akebono ASPs. Normally, this should NOT make a difference...but for me, it absolutely did.

As I said, a complete brake job completely cured the issue. New rotors, new pads, new silicone grease, brake fluid bled properly, the works. And it's been about 30k miles since without a squeak. Actually, I do need to go in and relube it, as the rear is making a really, really slight chirp when coming to a full stop, but you have to really listen very hard for it, and I'm picky as heck, so I can hear it.

So my advice to you: do a full brake job, and do not cheap out on parts.

 

[89Suburban]

Parking brake issue possibly? Especially if the axle seal is weeping? Just throwing it out there.

 

[Tonyv__]

My 2015 does this and I assumed it was my brake booster going. Since that’s at common issue. I admittedly haven’t looked too deep into the issue but now I’ll try to pinpoint the noise to see if it’s closer to each wheel or master cylinder

 

[bdbull]

It's done this for quite a while too. I've even done a full brake job that didn't make any difference at all. That's why I'm starting to lean towards the caliper itself. I think my next step is to rebuild the caliper if I can find the part number for the piston. Rockauto only has a genuine piston for the front caliper. Not sure if they use the same piston.

I may pull everything apart and see if the noise persists even when the caliper isn't on the rotor.

 

[jyi786]

It's done this for quite a while too. I've even done a full brake job that didn't make any difference at all. That's why I'm starting to lean towards the caliper itself. I think my next step is to rebuild the caliper if I can find the part number for the piston. Rockauto only has a genuine piston for the front caliper. Not sure if they use the same piston.

I may pull everything apart and see if the noise persists even when the caliper isn't on the rotor.

If you use a cheaper brand brake pad, this CAN happen. As stated, I use Akebono. I thought that it was high quality enough for me to step down from ASP to ACT, but that is exactly what caused it, and it even kept creaking after I reinstalled with some old ASP rear brake pads that I had laying around in my garage.

 

[bdbull]

If you use a cheaper brand brake pad, this CAN happen. As stated, I use Akebono. I thought that it was high quality enough for me to step down from ASP to ACT, but that is exactly what caused it, and it even kept creaking after I reinstalled with some old ASP rear brake pads that I had laying around in my garage.

I usually use Powerstop for our Tahoe and Avalanche. However, I did the brakes on the Tahoe around the same time as my son's 4Runner. Centric rotors and Akebono pads were recommended on the 4Runner forum so I went with those on both vehicles. They have squeaked since day 1 on both vehicles, and I cannot wait for them to wear out. I'm probably just gonna do a full brake job with the Powerstops that I've used in the past and rebuild the calipers while I have everything off. If that doesn't do it, then I guess we'll just have to set the Tahoe on fire.

 

[bdbull]

Finally fixed the problem over the weekend. Replaced the caliper piston and seals, and did a full brake job all the way around. No squeaks or creaks from anywhere now. Little concerned about the new seal as it didn't seem like it wanted to seat properly, so I'll have to check it after a little driving.

Pretty sure the piston was the cause. Not real sure how it was causing that terrible noise, but the piston did have some indentations in it.

 

[Tonyv__]

Finally fixed the problem over the weekend. Replaced the caliper piston and seals, and did a full brake job all the way around. No squeaks or creaks from anywhere now. Little concerned about the new seal as it didn't seem like it wanted to seat properly, so I'll have to check it after a little driving.

Pretty sure the piston was the cause. Not real sure how it was causing that terrible noise, but the piston did have some indentations in it.

View attachment 426243View attachment 426244

Where did you get a piston? Now that it’s windows down season, the sound is getting annoying. I might address mine soon.

 

[bdbull]

Where did you get a piston? Now that it’s windows down season, the sound is getting annoying. I might address mine soon.

I ordered it from Amazon. I usually pick up most of my parts from Amazon or RockAuto depending how much shipping RockAuto charges and how quickly I need them.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFBCJWC?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details