Just as an update.
I got really tired of the squealing and brought the car to a couple mechanics.
Consensus was that the hole in the seal had nothing to do with the squealing, and that it was entirely the semi-metallic pads' fault. Both mechanics (different shops) suggested worrying about the seal later.
I'm very sensitive to extra noise, so I went ahead and paid them to change out the (almost new) pads for ceramic ones (Raybestos, I think). I didn't trust myself to go through and do it properly... cause if I did go through and did the installation myself and the squeal was still there, I'd punch myself... HARD... in the head.
The squeal is completely gone; there's slight noise that should go away once it's worn in.
cklinh wrote:
Dang... not really...
The squeal seems to come back whenever I stop driving the car for a day or so... it tends to go away after about half an hour of driving.
So the question is, is there anything that I could have done wrong that would lead to brake squeal ONLY WHEN THE CAR COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP and WHEN I LET OFF THE BRAKES LIGHTLY FROM THE COMPLETE STOP?
And it happens only when I start driving the car for the first time in the day (doesn't matter whether it's hot or cold, parked inside or outside). Seems like whatever the problem is, it fixes itself with a bit of driving, but would come back after a bit of rest... the sound is driving me crazy!!!