When Are Squeaky Brakes Serious?

When Are Squeaky Brakes Serious?

Squeaky brakes are one of the most common automotive problems and arguably one of the most annoying. When you discover that your brakes are squeaking, your first thought is probably that your brakes are going out. But is that always the case? Not necessarily. Let's explore a few reasons why brakes might squeak.

Causes of Squeaky Brakes

There are other reasons for squeaky brakes besides failing brake pads. Dust, dirt, and moisture infiltrating your brake system can cause your brakes to squeak. For example, if your car sits outside overnight, it might develop a layer of moisture in the brake system. You might hear squeaking until the moisture goes away. Hard and semi-metallic brake pads might squeak in normal conditions as well. If your brakes heat up due to driving down a long grade or hauling a heavy load, they might squeak. If you often hit your brake pedal hard, it can cause squeaking from heat due to strain.

One clue is to listen to what kind of squeaking sound your brakes are making. You might hear soft, occasional squeaking, a shrill, high-pitched note, consistent squealing, or a sound like sheet metal ripping. The last sound listed is the one that will grab your attention and it should.

Rotor Rust

Another possible cause of squeaking when you step on the brake pedal is a rusted rotor. Only vehicles with disc brakes have rotors, which these days are most cars. Rotors lose their smoothness over time and may need to be turned or resurfaced. The squeaking sound comes from rust or non-smooth surfaces contacting your brake pads.

Failing Brake Pads

This is the cause of squeaky brakes that most people are worried about when they hear noise coming from their brakes. First, it's important to know that failing brake pads are only a possible cause if your car has disc brakes. However, most modern cars have at least front disc brakes. In order to get the squealing sound, your brake pads have to be seriously worn down.

Modern pads have a safety built in to warn drivers when they need to be replaced. This safety is a piece of metal that rubs against the brake disc and causes a squealing sound when the brakes are used. It only does this when the pad material has worn down far enough to expose it. If you ignore this sound, the next sound you'll hear will be the ripping sheet metal, which is the sound of your rotors scraping on the metal backing plates. If you continue to drive like this, you risk damaging your rotors and being unable to stop properly.

In order to prevent damage to your brake system, you should generally take your car in for a check-up if you hear a squealing sound every time you step on the brake pedal.