We’re going to come right out and state the obvious:
Your brakes are without a doubt the most important safety feature of your car.
Given their importance, it makes sense that a lot of drivers get nervous when their brakes start to squeal.
Rest assured – some brake noise is normal.
But brake noise can also be a sign that your brakes are reaching the end of their life.
How can you know the difference between normal and abnormal brake noise? And what can you do about it?
Read on.
Why do my brakes squeal?
The high pitched noise that many brakes make comes down to the type of pads in the car. Modern vehicles generally have semi-metallic brake pads, which are more durable but also a lot harder than the asbestos pads of old.
When the brake pedal is compressed, the metal rotor squeezed together by the brake pads may vibrate. The squealing noise you hear is usually the result of a metal rotor vibrating against a hard pad.
This squealing is especially common in the morning while your car is still heating up. Any moisture that has built up overnight can increase the vibrations and create a grinding or swishing noise in your brakes.
How can you fix normal brake pad noise?
The normal noises made by brakes are harmless. But they are also annoying for some drivers.
If your squealing brakes are driving you up the wall, there are a couple of things a mechanic can do about it:
Sand off the hardening surface of a brake pad or shoe.This will lessen the friction that causes the vibrations in the brakes and reduce the noise.
Try out a different brand of brake pad.The harder brake pads make squealing more common. A softer pad will reduce the noise – but may not last as long!
Suspicious Brake Noise
Some brake squealing is to be expected in most cars. But it shouldn’t be constant.
If your car is always squealing whenever you slow down, it could be a sign that your brakes are at the end of their life.
Most modern pads are made with a small steel spring. As the brake pad approaches its wear limit, this spring will start to scrape along the metal disc. Rather than a high pitched squeal, this can also produce a low grinding metal noise. This noise should not be ignored. It means that your brakes are wearing low and need immediate attention.
How else do I know that my brakes need a check-up?
Brake noises aren’t the only signs that it might be time for a brake change. When your brakes are running low, the below signs may also indicate that you need to get to the mechanic:
The brakes feel slow to respond or a bit spongy when the pedal is compressed.
The brake dashboard light turns amber– a signal that indicates issues with the ABS.
The brake dashboard light does red.This means that somewhere there is a system imbalance.
Ask a mechanic
Remember that squeaking brake should always be repaired by a mechanic.
Don’t compromise your safety by attempting to handle it yourself. Leave it to the professionals.
