Greetings All,

I've read up on here and other forums about squealing brakes. It seems like it's a common problem that arises in Defenders around the 5000 miles mark. My Defender 90XS (2015) developed this squealing at around 6000 miles. I did the research and found it's a common and known problem and Land Rover dealerships apparently just clean away the brake dust and all is solved until more dust accumulates. Some have mentioned switching brands of brake pads solves the issue.

When I called Lookers to sort my problem out, I was told to contact Land Rover assist. A chap came, listened to the problem, said it's a known issue and that Land Rover would arrange a courtesy car and mine would be fixed. I'd be without mine for around a week as Lookers are always super busy. Anyway, because of the hassle of needing two parking permits and knowing I had a service coming up and following assurances from Land Rover Assist that this problem was not harmful nor dangerous, I thought to wait.

My car is now with Lookers and I got a call back saying that they don't know of this as an issue but can glaze the brakes for around £340! I explained all the above and a little later the manager agreed to clean the brakes as a gesture of good will, but next time, this will be charged for as there was no advisory note from Jaguar Land Rover.

As this is a known and common problem, does Land Rover really not have this advisory note so dealers know? Also, surely it makes sense to switch brake pads to a make which doesn't cause so much dust build up? As I have a three year service agreement with Lookers, I need to have the car serviced by them, so can only use the official brake pads, until hopefully the company makes a change.

I'd love to hear back from you on this Ryan and maybe you could send this up the chain internally?

Many Thanks,

Edzi

Are you completely sure it's not grit or a stone jammed?

Last edited by custom90steve on 10th Aug 2016 2:03pm. Edited 1 time in total

Googling it suggests it's brake dust buildup as many have it. On mine a long motorway journey gets rid of the problem and then city driving brings it back, when braking at slow speed. Lookers have had a look and say they can't see anything, so doubtful it's a stone Steve.

Mine used to be similar on Genuine pads, I'm EBC green now and had no issues at all like genuine did.
So I know the issues you mean.

I had the same and been to two dealers to sort. Cleaning sorts for a while last time a few k (just hit 13k total) and started this week again. Was told my a friendly tec at the one dealer that the anti squeal shims had been removed on the my15?

I thought this was solved by putting copper grease on the back of the pads when fitting? Running Restoration Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/post323197.html#323197

Self confessed mileage hunter

Thanks for all the replies. I'm sadly not mechanically minded, so no idea what the answer is, but from all I've read, what the Land Rover Assist chap said and according to Steve's comment above, it's the use of not fit for purpose brake pads by Land Rover that cause the excess dust buildup which then causes the squealing.

I'd love to hear from Land Rover on this. Surely swapping out brake pads to a more suited one should be easy enough to do company wide? I know Lookers refuse to fit anything that's not official and as I have a multiple year service contract, my hands are tied. Driving around London deafening myself and others isn't an option either and it certainly doesn't do the brand any good when people turn to see the source of the horrendous noise and see it coming from a Land Rover.

Edzi

Good afternoon Edzi,

Thank you for your post.

I can confirm that Land Rover use parts for our vehicle that are deemed to be suitable for the operation. It is correct that the Land Rover retailer network will not fit parts that have not been approved by Land Rover.

Many thanks,
Amellia