Your brakes are obviously one of the most essential parts of your car. Having your brakes professionally inspected is vital as this will ensure that everything is working properly and your brake pads have enough life left. Still, even with regular maintenance, there are many times when your brakes might suddenly start to squeak. Noisy or squeaky brakes are a fairly common problem, but the good news is that there are a number of options that can help you overcome this issue.
Rust Build-Up
Your brakes can squeak for a number of different reasons. Most commonly, the squeaking occurs due to rust build-up on the rotors. This can happen due to humid weather or after rain or snowstorms. In this situation, the squeaking noise occurs as a result of the brake pads scraping the rust off of the rotors. The same thing can also happen if dirt builds up on the rotors after driving on unpaved roads. In these cases, the squeaking should quickly go away as soon as you’ve applied the brakes a few times.
Brake Pad Indicator
If your brakes continually squeak for a longer period of time, this is a sure sign that your vehicle needs brake service as there may be an issue with the brake pads or rotors. Brake pads have a wear indicator that will begin rubbing on the rotor when the pad becomes too worn out. This indicator is designed to emit a squeaking noise in order to notify you that the pads are worn out and will soon need to be replaced. Depending on the specific type of brake pad, the squeaking may be constant every time you press the brakes or it may only occur as you come to a full stop. Consider booking an appointment at your nearby auto repair shop to see what they can do to help.
Worn Brake Pads
The squeaking could also indicate that the brake pads are fully worn out to the point where the metal is grinding against the rotors. This is an especially serious problem as it will drastically reduce your stopping power. This is something that should be serviced as soon as possible.
Uneven Brake Pads
Squeaking can also occur if your rotors or brake pads aren’t wearing evenly. If the rotors aren’t wearing evenly, they can become warped and create lots of noise and vibration every time you step on the brake pedal. The same can also happen if the brake pads are wearing unevenly and not making full contact with the rotors. Similarly, if the brake pads or shims are loose or not securely connected, it can lead to vibration and squeaking. This isn’t a problem that can correct itself without expert care, and you’ll need to have someone take a look.
The fact that your brakes are such an important part of your car means you should always take the squeaking issues seriously. Squeaking that goes away on its own is usually nothing to worry about. However, if the problem persists, then it’s definitely time to have your brakes looked at.
