Rear wheel squeak after brake job?

[dolfinwriter]

Ok, 2002 Protege 5, 89k miles, 4 wheel disc, but no ABS. And it has the sport handling package.

I have a puzzle I'm hoping someone has experienced and solved. I did a rear brake job a couple of months ago and have had a slight intermittent squeak coming from one wheel ever since. I just recently did a front brake job as well, and also changed out the front struts. Now I also have an annoying squonk that comes from the new Gabriel struts, but that's another issue.

The rear wheel still squeaks. It reminds me of nothing so much as an old red wagon with one wheel that would squeak intermittently, and happens once with each wheel rotation. Eeee... Eeee... Eeee...

Most noticeable at low speed, gets faster with speed, and goes away with either braking or with a turn to the right (not sure about left turn). It seems to be coming from the right rear wheel, but I can't be sure.

Would the wheel bearing squeak like that under any condition?

I wonder if it is related to the brake adjustment, because even though I think I have my emergency brake adjusted per the manual, it won't lock up the wheels as is, but I'm afraid to tighten it anymore and break something.

Does anyone have any amplifying tips on the direction in the manual, both with regards to the adjustment at the caliper ("Turn the manual adjustment gear clockwise until the brake pads just touch the disc plate. Turn the manual adjustment gear back 1/3-turn..."), and of the emergency brake?

That caliper adjustment would make a lot more sense to me on the front, which has the M spring clips, but the rear doesn't have those (again, baffled why not?!?!)

I went to buy wheel bearings to replace them in case that IS my squeak, but at least for my car, I can't replace just the bearings. AutoZone doesn't have them, and the dealer carries only a complete hub assembly with bearings installed, for $145 for each side. Aren't the bearings just pressed in? I've seen other folks post here about taking them to the dealer to press them in, but my car must be different?

I don't suppose with 89k miles on the car it would really hurt to just keep replacing parts and just "Easter Egg" it until the squeak stops, but both finances and time are very limited.

I greatly appreciate any suggestions.

Gabriel struts... BIG thumbs down!

 

[nlinesk8s]

I can tell you what happened with my car. Same situation. Changed out entire rear brake system (calipers, rotors, pads) It starts the one per rev squeek on occcasion, which I ignore.

A month in my wife says that something is grinding back there. I check, and the pads are gone on one side to the backing plates, which are hittting the rotor. It was a bad caliper.

One other possible cause: The backing plates for the pads are sheared metal, and the shear marks make the pads fit poorly into the calipers. I spent some time with a file the second time around to make sure the pads fit well into the calipers, and wouldn't bind. I think the pads binding is the cause of the squeak; the pads wearing out prematurely was just the bad rotor. But you never know.