Comline Ireland has issued some important advice about safety critical braking components. 

The Comline’s brake doctor, aka Dr Keith Ellis, has explained some of the causes of brake noise. He said, “Arguably, the most common form of noise is brake squeal, caused by vibrations that result from the interaction between a brake disc, brake caliper, and brake pad. This influenced by factors including the temperature of the disc or pad, the ambient temperature, speed and the pressure being exerted under braking. The pad shape is also vital for noise prevention, with the right shims, slots and chamfers required. From a development perspective, any noise that exceeds 70db-80db is seen as problematic, as it is distinguishable by the human ear from inside the vehicle.”

Keith says that if a customer complains of noise the technician should get a full explanation, check service bulletins and where required do a test drive. “The system should be inspected. Brake springs, anti-rattle clips and shims will deteriorate and can cause brake noise to increase. It’s recommended to replace these accessory items when installing new pads. Worn or damaged mountings and bushings can cause caliper movement, resulting in uneven pad application and wear, all of which can contribute to noise. Look out for corrosion and/or sticking pistons.” 

Keith also points, “Worn wheel bearings can allow too much play, which can again result in uneven pad application and wear causing brake noise. A worn bearing flange can also cause disc thickness variation which can contribute to excessive brake noise.”

Comline recommends checking discs for wear and corrosion, replacing the disc or removing corrosion as required. Also cleaning the inside and outside of the caliper using brake cleaner to remove any dirt and corrosion, before lubricating with braking grease. 
Keith says customers also need to be warned about new component performance. He says “Educate the vehicle owner about the importance of ‘bedding-in’ new pads and discs for the first 200 miles/320 kilometres.”

Comline Ireland offers a comprehensive range of high quality braking components, trusted worldwide, this includes a ECE R90 approved brake pads covering  more than 800 references, for popular European, Japanese and Korean passenger and light commercial vehicles. 

Comline tests pads to go well beyond regulatory requirements to ensure OE matching performance. These tests include, hot shear at 300°C, wear testing, AK master testing (on dyno) and noise testing at varying speeds and pressures. 

Comline offers discs for more than 1,350 applications that cover over 90% of European, Japanese and Korean passenger and LCV models. Approximately 800 feature an anti-corrosion coating, which is applied to all areas of the disc, including the hub and friction surface, to a maximum thickness of 25 microns, which guarantees effective rust protection.

Brake calipers, now also feature prominently in the range, with all-new units manufactured to OE specification and supplied with a two-year (40,000-mile/65,000km) warranty. These are also quality tested to a very stringent criteria. These include pressure performance monitoring and corrosion resistance analysis via accelerated salt spray testing.

For more information on Comline braking, visit www.comline.ie