Why Do I Have Squeaky Brakes, And How Do I Fix Them?

There are 6 main reasons why your brakes could be squeaking. Considering the value they play in your safety, the safety of your passengers, and the health of your vehicle, it's important to identify the root cause of the sound as quickly as possible.

Ignoring bad brakes could lead to car damage, failure to stop the vehicle when you intend to, or dings in your or another person's car due to inefficient braking. The good news is, by knowing what causes squeaky brakes, you can make adjustments to your carrying capacity, driving conditions, or the brakes themselves to bring them back up to healthy standards.

What Causes Squeaky Brakes?

At times, your car brakes will squeak for benign reasons, such as when they are freshly installed or when you are driving in damp environments. In other cases, however, squeaky brakes indicate that you're overloading your car or that your brakes need emergency replacements.

Let's explore why your car brakes are making this odd noise, and what you can do:

Weather Conditions

Pay attention to when your brakes squeak at their loudest. The cold weather may be causing your brakes to contract, or harden. About 67% of brakes in the United States are "organic" brakes, meaning they're made of substances like rubber, which are reactive to the cold.

Squeaking, in this case, is not harmful. The brakes are designed to expand and contract in minor ways due to weather conditions. So long as they're not too old, they will function without issue. The sound is annoying, but not harmful.

There is nothing you can do to prevent this sound. As such, if you're certain the brakes are in healthy condition, you can just wait for a weather change to eliminate the sound.

Heavy Loads

If your car is regularly used to carry several passengers or shift heavy loads (perhaps for work or when moving house), then your brakes may begin squeaking more than before. The heavier your vehicle is, the more energy it will take to slow it down, which then applies excess pressure on the brakes. They will then squeak from the intense friction.

If this is done often, then the brakes will get hot. The metal can then swell, making the noise more severe. Under these conditions, your brakes will still function properly. The bigger the vehicle - and especially with trucks designed for a robust carrying capacity - the more specialized its brakes will be, since they're made to perform this kind of work.

To be safe, just get your brakes checked more frequently, as they could wear down faster.

Moisture

You may notice that your brakes make a squeaking noise in the morning or after intense rainfall. This particular sound is often caused by moisture.

When the car has been left unused overnight, or when it's been soaked for several hours or days, moisture can build up around the brake pads. This produces noise as the brakes rub away the moisture. The first time you apply the brakes in the morning, the sound will be most intense. It isn't anything to worry about, so long as it goes away.

If the car has sat unused for some time, however, this moisture can lead to the creation of a thin layer of brown rust. So long as it's minor, the rust will be removed as you drive the car throughout the day. If it does not, and your car begins to make a grinding noise, you should visit a mechanic to see if repairs are needed.

Embedded Objects

There's a lot of grit, sand, stone, and other materials on the roads that can become embedded in your brakes. Typically, you won't notice this, unless a particularly large stone has become stuck.

In most cases, the noise you do hear is the stone being pushed into the brake pad by the caliper. This can cause minor damage to your brakes, but the stone should become loose by itself and work its way out. If the sound leaves relatively soon, this is fine. If the sound persists, or another one begins afterward, you should check the area for damage.

Worn-Down Brake Pads

In most cases, squeaky brake pads have worn too thin. As you press the brake pedal, the brake caliper will clamp around the pad, applying pressure to slow the wheel down. When this happens, friction is created that turns into heat, dispelling the kinetic energy that the car has produced through moving.

In doing so, a very small layer is shaved off the pad. Over time, this will cause your pads to become thinner and thinner, which is why all brake pads eventually need replacing.

The squeaking that you can hear from worn-down brake pads is metal beginning to drag without the proper cushion. It means that you have reached the recommended wear limit and should take your car to a repair centre to have your pads swapped for new ones.

If you're worried about the quality of your brakes, you should visit your nearest Autofusion for a free brake check.

New Car

When you get a new vehicle, you may find that the brakes squeaking. Luckily, this doesn't mean that you need to replace the pads so soon. Instead, they just need bedding in.

The bedding-in process can be complicated, but it usually involves speeding up to around 60 mph and applying the brakes firmly until you've reached around 10 mph. This process should be repeated about 8-10 times. Doing this wears down the transfer layer on the pads, so it is completely even and can prevent brake issues in the future.

Some dealerships complete this process themselves before selling you the vehicle, but others may not. You can always ask in advance.

If you undertake the bedding-in process yourself, make sure that you do so in a safe environment when the roads are quiet (early in the morning or late at night) to avoid causing an accident. If this option isn't feasible for you, you can also contact your original dealership or a mechanic to have the brakes broken in professionally.

How To Stop Squeaky Brakes

Based on the root cause of your squeaky brakes, you may be able to resolve the issue personally, invest in the help of a mechanic, or wait for minor problems to fix themselves.

Waiting it out should only apply to minor, short-term squeaking – particularly in a car that brakes and feels fine otherwise. In such cases, a little grit or a damp morning could be the harmless culprit.

However, if the squeaking is intense or long-term, escalates to a grinding noise, or you feel a performance change in your vehicle, you should seek the help of a professional. For your safety, the safety of others, and the lifespan of your car, it's wise to visit your nearest repair centre, where a technician can have a look and see what needs to be done.