Cadillac XLR Forum banner

Break squeel is re-occuring problem

7976 Views 10 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  mswaim
My dealer already addressed this issue once and now 3 weeks later its back. I have 2500 miles and my car sounds like a POS. Anyone else having this problem? If someone from GM is listening please post a soultion for me to advise my dealer.

I dont think I need to visit my dealer every 3 weeks for this nonsense.
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
There is another thread on this subject in the forum. It is at:
http://www.xlrforum.com/showthread.php?t=455

Our XLR is at the dealership for this problem. The squeal gets very loud at times and other times the squeal isn't noticible. On wet pavement, the squeal is usually nonexistent. When it is hot and dry, the squeal is very loud...jet engine loud.

GM has issued a service bulletin concerning the loud squeal. Unfortunately I can't read the body of the bulletin, but here is the information I do have:


Make : CADILLAC -- Model : XLR -- Year : 2004

Service Bulletin Num : 01894 -- Date of Bulletin: JAN 01, 2004

NHTSA Item Number: 10006425

Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Summary:
FRONT BRAKE SQUEAL UNDER NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS. *MR
See less See more
I'd almost find this funny if it didn't involve the break squeal...

While the dealership is ordering the parts for the service bulletin squeal "fix", I had the tires rotated by the dealership.

You guessed it - I have not heard a single squeal in the three days since the XLR was returned. I'm going to wait I don't hear anything for at least a week before declaring "victory". But, so far not a single squeal...

I would be a nice surprise to find out that the fix is a simple tire rotation.
No problem here...yet

Our XLR is now 3 months old and has about 2500 miles. No squeal yet.
I will admit to not having been very agressive on the brakes, but regardless, there should be no squealing at the mileages you guys are talking about.

My '02 Mercedes ML-500 had a similar problem at 13,000 miles. New model, brand new brake design. I took the vehicle to Brake Check and "independently" verified the rotors. They were in spec. No glazing. We checked the thickness of the brake pad. Again, in spec.

The problem was the brake pad compound. Without good 'ol asbestos, the first compound used by Mercedes caused the kind of squealing you guys are describing. M-B did have a new formulation out fairly quickly.

M-B put new pads on gratis, after a round of loud complaining by me. I have 45,000 miles now, and haven't heard a whimper. I suspect the problem you are experiencing is of similar origin.

After reading your comments and the link to the other thread, I admit this is a cause for concern. I will be listening.

aviator :cool
See less See more
Redesigned Rotars and brake pads

I wasn't aware of the redesign!! Do you know when the new pads and rotars have been available??
Migsgig :cool
Point of argument

I don't know of a redesign - except the one on my Mercedes.

The technical issue: Are the brakes squealing because the "squealer" is making contact, or is the squeal due to an inadequate (or poorly implemented) pad compound scrubbing on the rotor? If the $200 or so is an issue with you, you need to do some investigation.

I believe the point of argument should not turn on the mileage of the car. It should be on the thickness of the rotor. What is the brand new "t' dimension? What is the minimum or "replace" dimension? Also true for the pads. At what thickness should the pads be replaced? Find that out independently. This is published information somewhere. Perhaps someone on the forum knows, or has access thereto.
If those dimensions are in spec, you have an undeniable argument that the "wear" on these consumables is not the issue at all. The more info you have, the better. I had the info in hand on my Mercedes. They wanted me to pay for the replacement. I innocently asked the right questions. They knew I had 'em dead to rights. At 13,000 miles Mercedes paid for new pads.

In Cadillac's defense, there is always the guy who drives around with his left foot on the brake and his right foot on the accelerator. Or the super hot rod guy who repeatedly want's to know the minimum stopping distance from 120 mph. In the wrong hands, it is possible to run through the brakes at 13,000 miles.

We will be listening...
See less See more
I now have over 11k on my XLR with lots of high speed driving thru mountains roads and over hot texas highways with out any brake squeal. guess I'm lucky or mabey it's because I gear down to slow down.
Rotars v Rotors

Is it "rotars" on an XLR as in "rotary"? Or is it "rotors" as in "something that rotates".

I'm really not being a wiseass here. I've just always see it spelled "rotors", and wondered it that was some kind of fancy English or Euro spelling, kinda like "colours", "cheque", or calling a traffic circle a "circus". :confused

--av--
You know that folks at Caddy must monitor this site (its the only XLR site) and thats exactly what the dealer said on my brakes that they were glazed (I didnt know what it meant at the time)

Has anyone read the TSB on the brake issue? (I have not)

im headed back to the dealer myself for a 2nd time. 3 times and Caddy loses a customer. You can make great looking cars but you need dealers to back them up and this is where Caddy still lags WAY behind (sales and service) the competition.
rotar-rotor-roter

aviator said:
Is it "rotars" on an XLR as in "rotary"? Or is it "rotors" as in "something that rotates".

I'm really not being a wiseass here. I've just always see it spelled "rotors", and wondered it that was some kind of fancy English or Euro spelling, kinda like "colours", "cheque", or calling a traffic circle a "circus". :confused

--av--
I was spelling it "roter" and that didn't seem quite right, :eek:
so when migsgig spelled it "rotars" I just picked that up! :rolleyes
Nothing scholastic, scientific, or European about it for me
maybe migsgig knows
Were at about 6,000 miles now and have an intermittant squeal coming from the brakes. My plan was to monitor it for next two weeks and if it persists have the dealer take a look at the pads/rotors.
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top