Brakes, including parking brakes, depend on several things for reliable, quiet operation.....cleanliness, proper adjustment, proper lubrication, sound mechanical condition, and periodic use. All disc brakes will make noise under certain conditions, though.
To keep noise of all the brakes at a minimum, and eliminate sticking of the parking brake, make sure the rotors, pads/calipers, and linkage are clean, and free of excessive brake dust or road grime buildup. CRC Brake-Kleen or an equal, plus a little compressed air, does the job best. Note that moisture will increase noise and can cause sticking, so the car wash is a bad choice here.
The parking brake should be properly adjusted, to hold solidly at just a couple of clicks. Too much slack increases the chances of sticking.
The parking brake cable and linkage need to be lubricated (after cleaning) periodically. The cable becomes more important if the adjustment allows excess slack, or if the rubber cable boot either interferes or has come off. The boot can catch and be pulled into the cable housing, causing improper release. If the brakes are serviced, brake lube should be applied to the appropriate sliding parts and any corresponding o-rings. Some are quite dry from the factory.
Naturally, the parts have to be in good mechanical condition. The pads should be within thickness tolerances and not excessively worn. The cable should be sound, and not frayed or broken, with an intact boot. The parking brake mechanism should not be damaged, and early Spyders should have the parking brake service bulletin work performed, with the appropriate parts replaced. This alone cured our sticking parking brake.
Finally, the brakes have to be used regularly. This goes for the parking brake, too. Parts set up, and get "locked-in" due to brake dust and corrosion. Then they work hard or make noise. Rust forms on rotors where the pads sit, making a tiny rough spot that causes intermittent noise. Corrosion can form on the sliding parts of the caliper, or dust can build up a ridge and turn hard in time. Pads can even rust to the rotors under storage, although organic pads are better than semi-metallic in this regard. Using the brakes hard, from a reasonably hig speed, scuffs off these minor imperfections, accumulated brake dust, and glazed areas on the pads, and can improve braking and reduce noise if done periodically after the machine is broken in.
If all else fails, there are products on the market that can be appied to the rotors for a short fix, or other products that can be applied to cushion the backs of the pads, for a lasting solution, to reduce the noise.
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