An annoyance, an embarrassment, and even a source of concern, brakes that squeal or squeak can be quite annoying. The squealing sound coming from your brakes could be caused by a wide variety of factors.
While some of the causes are unimportant and won’t result in any kind of safety issues, others may be an indication of major issues that require immediate attention.
Let’s take a look at some of the most typical factors that can contribute to this piercing sound coming from the brakes.
It is important to keep in mind that you may need to give your vehicle a test drive in order to determine the precise timing of the noises coming from the brakes.
When you drive, when you apply the brakes, or just when it’s chilly outside, do your brakes make a squeaking sound?
I will list some of the most common causes of brake problems below in the hopes that it will help you figure out what’s wrong with your brakes and prevent you from having to make an expensive trip to the technician. During your process of identifying the source of this issue, you will need to pay attention to the following things:
What are the Root Causes of Squeaky Brakes?
You are going to require diagnostic and repair information that is particular to your car or truck in order to troubleshoot, fix, and maintain your automobile. Because there are entire manuals for over 30,000 automobiles available online, you will be able to discover an exact match for the year, make, and model of your vehicle.
They are more affordable than a factory handbook, and in addition to that, they provide extensive illustrations and step-by-step repair instructions that go beyond what is included in the majority of printed manuals.
Brake Pads That Are Past Their Prime
Nearly all brand-new brake pads will have what are known as “wear tabs,” which are little metal devices that are affixed to them. These inconspicuous tabs are almost certainly the factor responsible for the majority of squeaky brakes.
In point of fact, they are expected to behave in precisely the same manner. When the brake pads are almost entirely worn down, these wear tabs are designed to start creating a horrible screaming noise. They are set up so that they will start making this noise.
This is merely a notice to the driver (or the driver’s technician) that the brake pads will need to be replaced soon.
Inadequate Levels of Lubrication for the Brakes
Your brakes should have been greased in a few different places when they were fitted, including on the brake pad backing plate, on all sliding surfaces, including the caliper bolts, and on the brake caliper piston.
It is possible for the brakes to make a squeaking noise if this step was skipped or if the lubrication has simply worn off.
Without taking off the wheel and removing the brake caliper, it will be difficult to figure this one out. To determine whether there is still sufficient lubricant to keep the brakes quiet, you will typically need the assistance of someone who has prior experience in the field.
If you examine your brakes and notice that there is a lot of dry dust but no lubricant, you should have your mechanic take a look at it as soon as possible. It’s possible that this is what’s causing your brakes to squeak.
Defective Surface on the Rotor
Shiny and silky describes a rotor that has just been manufactured. This new, bright, and smooth surface will eventually become worn down by the brake pads when it is subjected to repeated heating and cooling caused by the driver applying the brakes. Sometimes as a result of this, rocks, bits of the brake pads, or other bits of debris might become embedded in the rotors of the brakes. Because of this, the brakes may start to screech.
Taking off your tire and performing a detailed inspection of the braking surface is the most effective technique to determine whether or not this is the case. Rust buildup on the rotors of the brakes is another factor that might contribute to brake noise.
Sometimes the rust will build up to the point where it will make contact with portions of the caliper. Alternatively, pieces of the rotor may break off and become caught between the brake pads and the rotors, which will cause the brakes to screech.
If, upon removing your tire, you discover a significant quantity of rust that has grown up on the rotors, you can use a file to remove the rust off the rotors. This will confirm that the rust is not the cause of the squeaking sound coming from your brakes.