Squeaky Car Brakes: How to Stop Car Brakes from Squeaking?

Nobody likes to hear an alien screeching noise coming from their car, especially when you’re trying to keep it down. One such situation is the noise that comes from the brake pads. They always start at the wrong time, either you’re coming from a night shift or trying to be as quiet as possible. There is no good time to have squeaky brakes. 

It is also a little nerve-wracking to hear a strange noise coming from your car, especially when you’re on the road. Since your safety is dependent on your car, it is important to recognize the little reasons for their noise. It is even more crucial to pay attention when the noise is coming from the brakes. In this article, we will address how to stop car brakes from squeaking. 

Let’s get on to it.

A basic explanation – How do brakes work?

Before we understand how to stop car brakes from squeaking, let’s first have a look at how the brake words. 

When you depress the brake pedal, this sends an indication to the brake calliper which makes the two pads clamp down on the rotor(also known as brake disc) that is attached to the wheel in order to slow down the car’s forward momentum or kinetic energy. 

Since brake work by creating friction with a big metal disc, it is natural that it will generate a faint noise as the brake disc vibrates against the brake pads.

Why do brakes squeak or whine?

The friction and the vibration is bound to create some noise, chirps, and squeak(however you want to describe them). It magnifies if you live in harsher climates, but there is nothing to worry about as long as the brakes are working fine. 

We already know that there is friction between brake pads or rotor and the disc which allows your car to slow down. Now imagine the weight of the car, and the small area that the brake pads are in contact with. It’s no brainer that your brake pads work really hard to press on the disc. This entire process of friction and vibration may lead to foreign noise and squeak that we all very much dislike. 

Keep in mind that some squeaking and noise is the part of how the brakes are manufactured. You can get them looked at when the noise magnifies or your brakes are not as efficient as before. Let’s have a look at all the reasons and how to stop car brakes from squeaking. 

Why does your car brake squeak?

As we discussed before, it is natural for your brakes to make some noise regularly as a result of friction and vibration. It also depends on the temperature and the pressure that you exert on the brake. As far as your brakes are working fine, there is mostly nothing to worry about. However, if you feel that the noise is very loud and frequent, it indicates a more serious issue and you should take it to a car service centre. 

Here are some of the reasons why your brakes squeak :

• High Temperatures like cold, heat, or rain
• Brake Pads thinning
• Cheaper Brake Pads
• Loose parts
• Glazed brake pads and discs

How to Stop Car Brakes from Squeaking?

Collection of moisture from rain, dew, and condensation

If there was heavy rain overnight or snow, the surface of the brake discs might collect some moisture from rain, dew, and condensation. The moisture causes a thin layer of rust to form on the surface of the brake disc. 

When you use the brake with the rust, the brake disc turns which makes the brake pad remove the rust. The rust might get caught on the leading edge of the brake pad which gives the excruciating squeak when you use your brake. Since this type of brake noise is related to the weather, you don’t need any extensive steps to stop this. Once you use the brake for a few times, the brake pads will shed the layer of rust, warm up, and stop squeaking. 

To stop this kind of car brake squeaking, make sure you keep your car in a garage, especially when the weather is rough. 

Brake Pads Thinning

This is the second most popular reason why your brake makes that squeaky noise when you use it. Your brake pads go through extreme pressure, friction, and lots of vibration which eventually wears them out. To indicate worn-out brake pads, manufacturers smartly install a piece of soft metal into the brake pads.

When your brake pads are worn out, the metal will make a squeaking sound which indicates it is time to replace them. You can replace the brake pads at home if you have the correct tools. 

How to stop car brakes from squeaking – thinning brake pads?

• Remove the wheel
• Use a degreaser to clean the brakes and then remove the calliper
• Remove the brake pads from the calliper and insert the new pads. Also, inspect the disc and brake line to ensure everything is fine
• Replace the calliper and clips if needed.
• Check the brake fluid level
• Place the wheel back and tighten the wheel nuts.

You can also take your car to a mechanic if you don’t know how to replace the brake pads yourself. 

Cheap Brake Pads

A good brake pad has a semi-metallic content with shavings of copper, steel, graphite, and brass bonded with resin. They might even have organic materials like glass, Kevlar and rubber. However, when you go for cheaper alternatives, they are produced with a much higher metal content than it is necessary. 

The additional piece of metal exerts a pressure against the brake disc which leads to alien and squeaky noises. Moreover, it reduces the age of your brake pads and also poses a risk as you will not be able to tell when your brake pads reach wear and tear. This is because the brakes squeak for a long time when they are cheap, and it is hard to tell when it needs to be replaced.

Moreover, when your brake pads are worn out, they will affect the brake which is risky while driving. It might also lead to brake discs damage which is very costly to replace. 

To address the question of how to stop a car brake from squeaking, it is advised to use the manufacturer’s recommended brake pads to avoid the risk and the potential failure of your brake system.

Loose parts

Your car brake system, though seems easy to operate, consists of many components which include discs, callipers,anti-rattle clips, pads and hoses. One reason for the excessive noise and squeaking of your brakes can be because of the loose parts. 

If you’re wondering how to stop the car brake from squeaking due to the loose parts, here’s what you need to do. If you’re examining the brake yourself, make sure you check that the parts are tightly fitted. If the parts can be moved, it means one of the parts is not accurately screwed. It is best to consult a professional in such matters as even one brake part coming loose can be a serious risk to your life and car’s brake system. 

It could also be that the brake parts just need a little lubrication and cleaning, which can be done with the help of a degreaser spray, cloth, and inspection of the dirty part. 

Glazed Brake Pads and Discs

When it comes to glazing, brake callipers get stuck, and brake pads stay put partially. This leads to constant contact of the brake pads with the brake discs, which causes extreme friction and heat. When the brake pads are overheated, they go through glazing which makes it hard and crystallizes. This leads to a reduction in braking power and hence, the noise or squeak. 

To stop the car brakes from squeaking due to glazing, you will have to sand the brake disc and pads. You should also get the calliper inspected by a trained technician to avoid glazing in the future. 

This brings us to the end of our discussion of how to stop car brakes from squeaking. If you have any doubts or questions, feel free to drop a comment below. Stay tuned for more interesting blogs on car mechanisms, latest automobile news, and much more!