Brakes Squeaking? Know What Issues To Look For
Does your vehicle make loud squeaking sounds when you apply pressure to the brakes? If so, you'll want to look into these four potential issues as to why it could be happening.
How Old Are The Brakes?
Start to think about how old the brakes on your vehicle actually are, regardless of how often you drive the vehicle. It is possible that having old brakes have caused dust to accumulate on the rotors and cause an odd sound when the brakes are in use. If it has been so long that you can't remember when the brakes were last serviced, take your vehicle in to be inspected. You may not know what the last mechanic did when they looked at your breaks, and it's possible they only serviced the front brakes and not the rear brakes at the time.
How Thick Are The Brake Pads?
Your brake pads have a wear thickness indicator on them, which tells you when a significant portion of the brakes has been worn away. The wear indicator is made of metal and will produce a metal-on-metal rubbing sound that you can hear to let you know that something is up. It's different from other indicators on your vehicle that usually come in the form of a dashboard light since it is difficult to give your dashboard a reading on the thickness of the brake pad. If you hear squeaking, it's likely that the brake pads have worn down to the point that the indicator is exposed.
How Are The Rotors Holding Up?
Rotors don't last forever, and it's possible that they need to be resurfaced or replaced. That's because bad rotors that are in need will cause squeaking sounds when braking. An auto inspection by a mechanic will tell you the condition of the rotors and what you can do about them. If the rotors have never been resurfaced, you can get away with doing that to fix the problem since there is enough thickness there. However, rotors that have been resurfaced in the past may need replacement instead.
Is There Something Obstructing The Brakes?
You may be surprised at how simple debris can cause your brakes to be noisy. Having a pebble get stuck to the brake pads while on a dirt road can cause odd noises as it applies pressure to the brake. Sometimes this debris dislodges on its own and goes away, which is when you know the problem is debris.
If your are concerned about your brakes, contact an auto repair shop near you.