Ear Splitting Brake Squeal

[ferret76]

My car has recently developed an unbelievably loud brake squeal from the front brakes. About 12 months ago I replaced the drums and shoes front and rear and all was well. I last adjusted the brakes in January and recently the squeal has started. I took the drums off and gave everything a good clean, both the shoes and drums looked in good shape. Reassembled and adjusted and the squeal is still there. I'm not talking about a cute little squeal either, it is that loud it rattles my fillings. Similar to fingernails on a blackboard being played through AC DC's front of house concert rig. I can barely stand it, I can't imagine how the punters on the side of the road feel when I stop near them.
I took the whole lot apart again and roughed up the shoes with a rasp which seemed to cure the problem for a couple of days. Should I give the inside of the drums a light once over with some wet & dry paper? Could I have a dud set of shoes ( I have never had this problem before)? Should I install a very loud stereo so that I can't hear the squeal anymore? Could it be that I actually do need those beehive springs that no one ever bothers to put back in?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, please type loudly.

[MarkyB]

Did you chamfer the leading edges a bit, that might help.
Dump the beehive springs too while you are at it.

[bmcecosse]

Chamfer the leading edges. But also in the Manual - there is a note about cutting a slot in the shoes from one of the little holes to the inner edge -to eliminate brake squeal. Could be worth a go.......

[Chris Edgar]

I had this a few months ago..,unbelievable racket...but that was from new shoes.
New shoes already seem to have the "slot" mentioned in the manual.
It disappeared by itself after a good long 240 mile journey & never came back,
so I never did find a cure, just time & distance.

[les]

It could be the drums are glazed or got too hot at some time, use some emery paper on them and blow out the dust. My advise re beehive springs, ----keep them on or put them on! They're sometimes left off only because they can be awkward to fit.

[bmcecosse]

No bee-hives on the front anyway... and I never fit them at the rear. Although I DO have to do so on my TR7 - or the shoes won't sit against the backplates.

[les]

I expect the people who designed the set-up thought, 'Look lads, we can have a bit of a laugh here, as things are a bit slack at the moment, tell you what we'll do---we'll design a couple of funny shaped springs for the rear brake shoes, we don't need them but if you don't say anything, nor will I'

[bmcecosse]

That's it! Typical BMC....... Same idea with TWO screws to hold on the brake drums......... Waste waste waste. And not just the provision of the eight screws - eight holes to drill and tap in the hubs, eight holes to drill and countersink in the brake drums, and eight screws to be fitted during assembly...... when four are plenty........ Repeated over a Million + Minors - it adds up !!

[les]

Belt and braces, that was the uk then, also probably amounted to a working life for some bloke. Don't tell me you only fit one screw! However there's only one hole for the half shaft, so relax!!

[bmcecosse]

Yes - one screw for me...... They eventually realised and later Minis only have one screw - but still two holes etc! I suspect if they had eliminated the extra screws etc etc on the Minor from the start - they would have saved £1 per car = a Million + £ saved !!

[lambrettalad]

nice to see the scottish reputation being upheld

[les]

Less weight more mpg----say no more!!