The noisy sound when you hit the braking pedal might alert you of something wrong with your car, but you cannot figure it out immediately. Don't panic. Squeaky brakes are a common issue found in automotive, but is it dangerous despite its annoying sound?
What causes brake noise?
Having brakes that function properly means your vehicle will be able to stop safely and smoothly. All brakes make some noise sometimes. Under the right conditions, the disc, the pads, and the caliper they are mounted in can start to vibrate simultaneously. Most brake squeals occur at a single discrete frequency. The speed of the vehicle and how hard you press down on the left pedal will only change the volume of noise, as the pitch is controlled by the stiffness and mass of the brake pad and disc.
For the first few stops in the morning, many brake pads may make a swishing or grinding noise as they warm up and shed any moisture from the overnight. The pads brushing off a thin coating of rust that formed on the iron discs causes the hissing or grinding sounds on certain rainy or dewy mornings, and this is normal.
In addition, some brake pads have a wear indicator that will scrape on the disc as the brake pad reaches its wear limit. This sound tells you that it's time to change pads before the friction material wears out completely because it will damage your brake rotor.
How to Fix the Squeak
There are some methods to stop the brake noise that you can try:
- Apply Grease to the Brake Pads
If your brakes are new but squeaking, greasing the contact points might fix the problem. Remove the brake pads from the calipers and apply brake oil to all contact areas. The underside of the brake pad, as well as any contact points on the caliper carrier, are examples of applicable locations. Keep in mind that any grease or oils must be avoided to the rotor and brake pad friction surfaces. - Install a Set of Shims
For extra resistance against noisy brakes, consider using brake pad shims. Depending on your vehicle, your brake pads may have shims already fitted out of the box. If not, brake pad shims can be installed on the reverse side of the pads to aid in preventing brake noise. Shims work by taking up any slack that would allow the brake pads to move around and usually have a small layer of rubber to absorb any vibrations that would result in a squeak.
Consider utilising brake pad shims to add more resistance to noisy brakes. Your brake pads may come with shims already installed depending on your vehicle. If this is not the case, brake pad shims can be placed on the backside of the pads to help reduce braking noise. Shims operate by taking up any slack in the brake pads that would enable them to move about, and they generally contain a tiny layer of rubber to absorb vibrations that might cause a squeak. - Replace the Pads and Rotors
In some squeaking brake cases, your brakes might be nearing the end of their lifespan, or it means the pads and rotors are worn out. Because the pads and rotor are making metal-on-metal contact, you will hear a screeching noise if the friction surface on the brake pads wears down enough. Another source of noise might be warped rotors, which means the brake pads are unable to make contact evenly with the rotor surface when braking. In this scenario, replacing the brake pads and rotors is the best solution.
Under normal driving conditions, most passenger vehicles' brakes should remain quiet. However, there are several situations when loud brake noises are unavoidable. These are often seen in high-performance vehicles with heavy-duty braking systems. These braking systems' rotors and pad compounds are naturally loud, especially in cold temperatures. The benefit with these brakes is that they are more durable for longer periods of time.
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