Noisy brakes

[Taz]

I have an issue with very squeaky brake been going on for nearly 9 months in this time the dealer has cleaned the brakes three times changed the pads ,then the disc's then I was informed it was because of the way I washed my so it did not get a wash for a month still the same problem on the next visit I was informed it was because I had the regeneration set to high causing rust on the disc have running on one for a month and still the same even on one peddle driving when you have to brake it the same has anyone had this issue

 

[WigglePig]

It may be worthwhile doing a little brake bedding-in drive; on a quiet road get up to 50-60 and brake hard down to about ten, accelerate back up to 50-60 and repeat a few times, without stopping. Then keep driving for a while without braking to let the brakes cool and see if that helps.

 

[Taz]

Thanks for your information but this all started when the car was 9 months old and been going on for the last 9 months I have tried what you suggested.

 

[MG Clive]

Honestly @Taz, it's something you're going to have to accept with an EV, you'll need to 'clean' the brakes quite regularly using the hard braking method. Because of the regenerative braking, your brakes won't get anywhere as much use as on a non-electric car, so the discs will rust up far more quickly due to lack of use.

 

[MDWMG]

Mine has one nearside brake that squeals every time I brake gently, and has done it from new, 4 months ago.
As its just one that squeals, there's obviously something not quite right on that brake. I suspect the pads are sticking slightly in the carrier; there's no way that rust is forming on only one disk!
I asked the dealer to look at it when the car went in for warranty work, but they said they couldn't reproduce the fault. Of course, it squealed as I touched the brake leaving their forecourt; my guess is they didn't even bother looking at it.
The car is used every day, and as a lot of my driving involves slow moving traffic queues, the squealing happens a lot. It is annoying, so I'll probably get round to looking at it myself when the weather improves.

 

[NLMGSAN]

Mine has one nearside brake that squeals every time I brake gently, and has done it from new, 4 months ago.
As its just one that squeals, there's obviously something not quite right on that brake. I suspect the pads are sticking slightly in the carrier; there's no way that rust is forming on only one disk!
I asked the dealer to look at it when the car went in for warranty work, but they said they couldn't reproduce the fault. Of course, it squealed as I touched the brake leaving their forecourt; my guess is they didn't even bother looking at it.
The car is used every day, and as a lot of my driving involves slow moving traffic queues, the squealing happens a lot. It is annoying, so I'll probably get round to looking at it myself when the weather improves.

Or ask someone else to check that brake and let them write down the findings. This way the MG dealer accepted costs for new tyres , steering wheel allignment, rims allignment and proper balancing.

 

[ReintjeWA]

My ice cars often had squeaky brakes, even when the pads and discs were new. My mechanic explained it’s an issue with the pads because they no longer contain asbestos, so they just squeal sometimes. I don’t know though, I would’ve thought they stopped using asbestos in brakes ages ago, but I’m no mechanic.

Haven’t had this issue with the MG4 yet, and I’m always on regen 3, I keep thinking I need to clear the brakes, but haven’t remembered to do so when in the car so far.

 

[decrep]

I just charge up to 100% on a regular basis, you get down to 97% with no regen being used, and down to 93% before full regen is available.
Braking very hard will always use some friction braking, no matter what the battery state of charge.
It's a fairly dry climate here, no salt on the roads, and we haven't had it a year yet, but there's no squeak.

 

[Tuareg]

Take the wheel off and spray liberal amounts of brake cleaner on and around the calipers/discs. You'll see lots of black/grey residue running off which is the break dust on these components. That might well get rid of any noise.

 

[WigglePig]

The only other thing I can suggest is making extra sure that there is an anti-squeal shim or compound on the back of each of the pads, switch to minimum regen for a while and start giving the brakes significant use to see if that helps with alleviating the noise. Sometimes the retainer springs are incorrectly installed and these can also sing.

 

[decrep]

I'm not convinced, setting regen to one. increases friction brake use.
Check the power meter in regen 1 and regen 3 when braking, I don't think there's much difference.
I assume the regen setting only affects the accelerator pedal response, not the amount of regen.
Yes you have to use the brake pedal, but I think that also controls regen.

 

[ReintjeWA]

Switching to Neutral when driving on an empty stretch of road (carpark or whatever) and giving it a good brake, doesn't need to be an emergency brake, and you'll feel the difference when the friction brakes are used.

 

[JonnyG]

Mine are the same, probably worse in the wet and winter. I've found some hard braking sessions from 70mph (when safe) does work for me if done regularly. I also do a few hard brakes in reverse (again when safe). This gets rid of my squeak/squeal for a period until the next one is required. I tend to end up doing it weekly on a certain regular trip that has a quiet stretch of dual C/W and roundabouts..

 

[Bricktop X PWR]

I've a long hill I go down at least once a week. (1/2 mile)

It's a NSL road and I apply the brakes all the way down.

I'm travelling at 60mph and put the car into neutral at the top of the hill.

As long as I don't have a following car, I gently apply the brakes but don't scrub off too much speed so they get hot.

At the bottom I brake very hard and very nearly to a stop.

My brakes are silent and always have been. (11700 miles)

 

[WigglePig]

I'm not convinced, setting regen to one. increases friction brake use.
Check the power meter in regen 1 and regen 3 when braking, I don't think there's much difference.
I assume the regen setting only affects the accelerator pedal response, not the amount of regen.
Yes you have to use the brake pedal, but I think that also controls regen.

What it does is requires you to control braking with the brakes significant use pedal; brake later and harder to ensure the friction brakes engage.

 

[gDallasK]

I've had a problem with loudly squeaking brakes since my MG4 ER was new in December 2024. The noise is negative impacting my enjoyment of the car. Initially it was just when reversing but it now also happens when driving forwards. Hard braking repeatedly does give some short relief from the noise, but it always comes back. Arnold Clark, my local MG dealer, have taken little interest in resolving the problem. So far I have not spotted any suggestion here on the forum which seems to permanently eliminate the squeak However, some contributors have pointed to the fact that there is no longer any asbestos in the pad material. So I was wondering if anyone has tried replacing the pads with an alternative compound from a third party manufacturer? And, if so, did it fix the problem.

 

[decrep]

I think your problem is corroded disks, I doubt changing pads will help much.

If you are in a corrosive atmosphere a regular effort to engage the friction brakes is needed to wear the corrosion away.
The disks can be machined to clean them up, but unless friction brakes are activated on a regular bases, the squeak will keep reappearing.

 

[Matt x power]

Charge it to 100% as this will use the brakes rather than regen do this as part of your charging every week

 

[gDallasK]

I think your problem is corroded disks, I doubt changing pads will help much.

If you are in a corrosive atmosphere a regular effort to engage the friction brakes is needed to wear the corrosion away.
The disks can be machined to clean them up, but unless friction brakes are activated on a regular bases, the squeak will keep reappearing.

That is an interesting thought - I did have that problem on a Subaru Impreza WRX I used to own. But my MG4 has only done 4000 miles and is always garaged - so relatively rarely exposed to the elements. Not an issue at service last month either. I will, however, check the disks as you suggest.

 

[gDallasK]

Charge it to 100% as this will use the brakes rather than regen do this as part of your charging every week

Will try this and report back if I see a difference.