# Brake Squeal

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/brake-squeal/30471>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [May 14, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brake-squeal/30471 "2009-05-14T16:22:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![IndyBob7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@IndyBob7](https://community.cartalk.com/u/IndyBob7)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brake-squeal/30471/1 "2009-05-14T16:22:20Z")

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My son-in-law has an '05 Hyundai Elantra. We changed out the front pads (semi-metallic to semi-metallic) in the Summer of 2008. We inspected the front rotors and they were in good shape and we did not turn them. All has been well up until 2 months ago when my son-in-law stated that a high-pitch squeal occurs. I have not been able to reproduce the squeal when I drive the car. Note: Rears shoes, drums and wheel cylinders are all in good shape. Yesterday, I applied some anti-squeal compound to the backs of the pads to see if it dampens the squeal.  
  
  
  
 My real question is: Are semi-metallic pads softer - and therefore less prone to squeal - than ceramic pads? I have heard that ceramic pads last longer but are more prone to squeal and wear out the rotors more quickly. Basically, I want to know if it would do any good to replace the semi-metallic pads with the ceramic pads. I don’t think so but I’m not sure. I believe that the car’s OE pads were semi-metallic.  
  
  
  
 Thanks much.