Why are my brakes squealing? Often, this noise can confuse drivers in many ways. The braking system is an extremely important part of cars or any other vehicle, without which the vehicle cannot be controlled at high speed.
Depending on the driver, brakes can slow your moving vehicle or stop it completely. But many times, when the brakes of moving vehicles are applied, a screeching sound is heard.
Through this article, we will know in detail what the reasons are for brake noise in the car.
How Does Brake System Work?
The braking system of a car consists of brake rotors and brake pads and these pads are squeezed by pistons on either side of the rotor until the rotor stops rotating, due to which your car slows down or stops completely.
Some older technology vehicles use brake drums in their braking system. But there is a principle to his work. In drum brake systems, instead of squeezing the pads on either side of the rotor, the pads are pushed or pulled towards the drum.
When this happens, there is excessive friction between the brake pads and the wheel drum, due to which the speed of your car slows down or, depending on the driver, stops completely. In modern vehicles, brake pads are pulled or squeezed by hydraulic brake pistons.
In older-technology vehicles, the brake pads are pulled or pushed by brake wires and rods attached to the brake pedal and modern cars have front and rear discs or rotors. But both types of brakes can be found in many cars. In which disc rotor pad brakes are often given in the front wheel.
Why Are My Brakes Squeaking?
If your brakes are squealing, the most common cause is brake pad wear. Because when the brake pads become thin, the metal wear indicator starts rubbing against the brake rotor, causing a squealing sound. Other causes may include dust and debris accumulation, dirty or corroded rotors, improper brake rotors, weather conditions, or bent brake clippers.
1. Dirty or Corroded Rotor
The brake rotor is a disc made of metal. The pads on the brake rotor are squeezed according to the pressure of the hydraulic piston from both sides.
Thereby, the friction between the rotor and the pads slows down the speed. But sometimes the metal of the brake rotor is of poor quality or the rotor may be covered with dirt or grime.
Due to which they become lifeless and rough. And brake pads don’t bond well to the worn surface of the rotor. Due to which you may experience vibration problem or screeching sound in the vehicle while applying brakes. If this type of problem is being caused by dust on the brake rotor.
So after driving for a long distance, the car may kill itself. But if the rotor is made of bad metal or has a lining on it, the mechanic can then replace the brake rotor with a new one or grind the brake rotor to clean and smooth its surface.
2. Worn Brake Pads
Brake pads have metal on one side and fiber on the other. The fiber connects to the brake rotor and slows down the rotor speed when braking.
But due to excessive wear of the brake pads, the metal starts rubbing against the brake rotor. Due to which the sound of screaming and shouting starts coming while applying brakes.
And this can weaken your car’s braking system and excessively worn brake pads can dig into the brake rotor. This can cause the surface of the rotor to become rough and flaky and the entire rotor may have to be replaced.
3. Bent Rotor Back Plate
There is a thin metal plate attached to the back of the brake rotor. There is a slight gap between this plate and the rotor. Sometimes, this metal plate turns and hits the rotor.
And while applying brakes, the brake rotor starts rubbing against this plate. Due to which the sound of screaming and shouting starts coming on braking. When this happens, the plate must be turned backward with a screwdriver or rod. so that this rotor back plate does not hit the rotating rotor.
4. Bad Wheel Bearing
If the wheel bearing of your car is damaged. Then your car’s wheels will vibrate when you apply the brakes. This can cause the brake pads and brake rotors to loosen, due to which a screeching sound can be heard while braking. Due to this, you can also experience the weakening of the braking system of the car.
5. Bent Brake Clippers
Clippers play an important role in the braking system of a car. Both ends of the clippers fit on either side of the rotor. Disc pads are fitted at both ends of the clippers.
The pressure of the brake clipper piston squeezes the disc pad against the rotor. Due to this, the grip between the rotor and disc pad is maintained.
But sometimes the clippers get bent or these brake clippers can get jammed and stuck. Due to this, the grip between the brake rotor and disc pads becomes weak. Because of which a screeching sound starts coming while applying brakes.
How To Fix Brakes Squeaking
To stop the brakes from squeaking, you should check the damaged parts of your vehicle’s braking system, clean them, and then fit them. If there is no solution, then you can replace the parts of the braking system with new ones.
- Check the brake rotor surface. If the brake rotor surface has become rough or lined, then you grind it once to make its surface smooth. If the brake rotor is in very bad condition, then you can replace it with a new one.
- Replace worn brake pads with new ones.
- Check the back plate of the brake rotor if it is rubbing against the rotor.
- If wheel bearing is worn or cracked. Then replace the wheel bearing with a new one.
- Check brake clippers, replace damaged clippers with new ones.
- Through this process, you can get rid of the brake squeaking problem.
FAQ’S
Q. Why are my new brakes squeaking?
The reason for your car’s new brakes squealing may be corrosion on the smooth surface of the brake rotors due to night dew or water. Because of which even new brakes can make a screeching noise at the start of the vehicle. But this type of sound automatically ends when the vehicle is running.
Q. Brakes squeal until warmed up?
This is because the brake rotor and brake pads, being cold and hard, do not adhere properly to each other. But due to the warm-up of the brake rotor and pads, friction starts to occur properly.
And the brake rotor and pads get good grip or moisture on the brake rotor in the beginning can also cause a squealing noise until the brakes warm up.
Banty is the owner of Autorepairszone.com & is also a vehicle mechanic by profession. We have almost 12 years of experience in the field of automotive repair, and we strive to provide you with accurate information about vehicle malfunctions and repairs based on our experience.