Hi,

I was wondering if you've any suggestions. My 1985 XJ6's rear brake pads were low, so I had the local auto parts store order new ones for me. I asked my mechanic (honest & reliable) to put them in and he did. After about 3 days, I noticed a brake screech that has just gotten worse and worse. Now 3 weeks later, it becomes uncomfortable to even drive the car it has gotten so loud. The screech occurs after the brakes heat up and goes away as brake pedal force approaches maximum.

I had another mechanic warn me that special pads are used on the Jaguars, the ones you buy aftermarket are too "hard" and will cause this symptom. If you don't mind, would you let me know what you think? If this makes sense, I'll just get new pads and have them install them for me.

Thanks,

John

Submitted by wljenkins@usa.net on Tue, 12/07/2004 - 20:23

I started looking through some receipts as well. When the pads wore out on my "loaded" calipers that I had purchased from Foreign Auto, I bought replacement pads from SNG Barratt. The pads that came with the calpiers seemed to make a mess of my new wheels and I figured it was because they were low quality pads as I did not see the same level of brake dust on another club member's '87 XJ6. So, I when I installed the SNG Barratt pads, the wheel still got just as dirty just as fast as they did before. It turns out that the other club member's car is outfitted with some sort of aftermarket shield on the inside of the rim that keeps most of the brake dust off of the wheels.

Sorry, I'm a little off topic BUT the pads that I purchased from SNG Barratt DO NOT squeak!!

Submitted by wljenkins@usa.net on Tue, 12/07/2004 - 20:08

I NEVER buy brake pads from NAPA for that very reason. Not just for Jaguars but for any other car as well, I have yet to buy brake pads from NAPA that did not wind up squeaking no matter what I did, put the "anti-squeal compound on the back of the pads, new rotors, new drums, whatever..... I've done literally hundreds of brake jobs and I have a friend who is a mechanic who says the same thing.

I bought a set of "loaded" front calipers from another parts store when I did the front brakes on my '86 XJ6 and everything workled out fine. This is an auto parts store called "Autopart International - Foreign Autopart Division." I think they are on the east coast. I did brakes all the way around on another '87 XJ6 that I'm working on and bought all four loaded calipers from them as well. I actually dropped the rear suspension on that car so I could get the rotors off in order to turn them. Brakes are now perfect on this car with absolutely no squeaking.

The loaded calipers weren't that expensive either, I think the fronts were $109.00 each and the rears were $102.00 each. Again, this is a rebuilt caliper complete with a set of pads. Core charge was just as much as the caliper, they must REALLY want them back!!!

Submitted by pascal@jcna.com on Tue, 12/07/2004 - 14:38

I got Ferrodos from coventry west for the XKR. no problem. same pedal feel as the Jaguar pads... I didn't put them on myself, the shop uses a compound in the back which is supposed to reduce squeaking... i dont't know if the compound or the pads but they dont' squeak.

not sure how long they'll last.. i suffer from accute leadfootitis so my brakes take a beating... I dont' think I get much more than 10k out of front pads...

Pascal Gademer
South Florida Jaguar Club
72 E-type 2+2
00 XKR Coupe
99 XJR

Submitted by saadi7@msn.com on Tue, 12/07/2004 - 14:27

John,

I guess I wasn't the only one. The difference with me was I that I ordered original Jaguar OEM pads and rotors from a wholesaler and had my tire dealer install and do the work. All together it cost me less than $400 for front and back, where the dealer wanted $700 just for the front alone. Since I used factory original replacements, you think that there would be no noise, but that was incorrect. The Jaguar dealerships usually treat the pads to prevent the God afoul squeaking noise. After a year, the noise has finally subsided for me.

If anyone can recommend the best pads for Jags that give good wear and the absence of squeaking, please reply. Also, please state your supplier!

Daniel Saadi
98 XJ8