Squeaky brakes can panic a driver, as brakes are arguably the most important safety feature in automobiles. Sometimes the concern is warranted, as the brakes are going bad. Other times, however, there may be nothing wrong at all. Some brake noise is considered normal. Different driving conditions can affect brake noise, including severe braking, dusty or sandy conditions, or even humidity. Certain high-pitched brake noise happens because the semi-metallic brake pads used on newer cars are harder. It’s a safer and longer-lasting alternative to the asbestos material it replaced. A high-pitched squeal often happens on smaller cars and is heard in the first few stops when brakes are cold and damp. Certain brands can be noisier than others. These harder pads that have more metal generally last longer since they’re stronger.
What causes brakes to rattle?
Brake rattle is a common concern for drivers. Most often brake rattle happens when you let up off the pedal. Suddenly you may hear a rattle. Usually it sounds like the rattle made when shaking a can of spray paint. The most common cause of this noise is the brake pads, and that’s ok. Brake pads can rattle sometimes due to heat expansion, especially if they were installed without anti-rattle shims. Keep in mind that this rattle should not be consistent and it should never happen while you have your foot on the brake pedal. Under either of those conditions, you should have your brakes checked. It could be the sign of a more serious problem.
What are common causes of brake grinding?
Brake grinding is always a serious problem, and should be dealt with immediately. There are two major causes of brake grinding. When your brakes are making a loud grinding sound when you press on the pedal, this is almost always caused by contact of the rotor disc with part of the caliper. This is usually because of extreme wear to the brake pads or rotors. If you wait until your brakes grind before servicing them, you’ll be in a worse situation. They will require a much more expensive repair. Another reason that brakes may make a grinding sound is when a foreign object (such as a stone) gets lodged somewhere in the caliper. When this happens, the brakes will usually make a consistent grinding or screeching sound when the vehicle is in motion. You can try to work the object free yourself by moving the car forward and backward repeatedly in a safe place, but if that doesn’t remedy the problem, you’re going to have to have the brakes serviced. A foreign object in the brake mechanism can cause expensive damage.
See a Mechanic for Brake Repair
Because brakes are a vital part of your car, it’s important to have an expert perform any changes to your brake system. In addition, it’s very possible a completely different problem is causing your brake noise. Have a mechanic make sure it’s not a more serious problem before you dismiss it as “normal brake noise.” Brakes are designed to make noises when they’re going bad to warn you, so it’s actually a good thing. It’s certainly better to find out your brakes are going bad hearing a squeak than jamming on the brake and not being able to stop.