Just changed my calipers and rotors, plus brake pads on a 1997 4Runner 4x4. Followed directions pretty well I think. Was told the calipers needed replacement because pads wearing uneven. I put the old shims back on these new Power Stop pads that came with my rotor/pad kit. Not sure if those Power Stop pads actually needed the shims, and I don't really know how you are supposed to know that anyway. Bled the brakes, since calipers were new.

I set the brakes braking hard at 35-45 mph a few times, separated by some cool down time. No noises. There was a clunking that went away after the first hard brake at 40 mph. Then my wife had the vehicle on a town trip for the day with no noise.

Now, it sat for a day. And then the next day brakes are squealing.

The only thing I am thinking is the squeal indicator tab is wrong on a pad perhaps. Maybe. I did see some directions that the inside pad on the passenger side had the wear tab on the lower end on the driver inside pad had the tab on the top. That went in fine that way on the driver side, but the passenger side the tab was at the top, so that didn't make sense. But these are brand new pads and the wear tabs shouldn't be anywhere near hitting anything (or so I am thinking).

 

Did you clean the rotors and pads thoroughly with spray brake cleaner after you got done?

Even finger prints, or a little bit of brake fluid from the bleeding, can cause squealing/squeaking. It might not be a bad idea to clean the pads and rotors real good, and see what happens.

Just a thought. I get so few any more...
Pat☺

 

Thanks Pat... after installing everything on the 4Runner, I did NOT do a final spray of brake clean. Just an initial cleaning of everything with brake cleaner. I will consider always spraying AFTER I get done now in case of fingerprints dust, etc. Yes, next time I get that wheel off I will do another cleaning. Should be soon as I have another project that will have me pulling the front wheels again.

Also, this was my first time doing brake pads and I reused the shims that were on the old pads and put them on the new pads. But the new pads didn't need the shims, which is what I found out later. So I will pull the new pads, remove the old shims I reused, and then clean and reinstall.

I just replaced the pads on my Toyota Tacoma as well, and installed the new pads with great success, no sounds, and just the pads with no shims.

 

I have found some metallic/ceramic pads to be noisy, and they wear rotors faster than non-metallic pads do, as well.
I've removed nearly new ones in the past in favor of softer organic type pads.

 

I hear you. The replacements were ceramic pads. Actually, the noise may have subsided. We'll see. But I have no problem replacing them if necessary. This weekend I am going to remedy my mistake, which was to put the old shims on the new pads, which did not need shims cauuse they are built-in.