The causes of squeaking brakes

If your brakes make a noise, a squeaking or a scraping sound, it is not usually wise to drive on for a long time. To give you an idea of possible culprits, this article lists some possible causes.

Unusual braking noise

Unusual braking noise or behaviour is a warning sign that one of the most essential systems in your car may be faulty. Unfortunately, it happens that drivers ignore strange noises or abnormal braking behaviour, with sometimes unpleasant consequences.
Eventually, you may find yourself in a situation where your car needs a repair that is much more expensive than it should be. Worse still, the car may not stop in an emergency, causing an accident.

Car brakes have a tough job. They are exposed to enormous forces and a lot of heat is generated by friction every time you use them to stop.
When you press on the brakes, all the energy that your car makes forward has to be converted into friction in order to brake. The amount of friction created to stop a medium-sized car is enough to make the brake discs so hot that they glow and can turn red.

As mentioned before, the brakes of your car are perhaps the most essential part of all. Therefore, you should be alert if you hear any braking noises, such as squeaking and/or notice irregular braking behaviour.
Below are some of the causes of abnormal noises that can occur in the braking system of passenger cars.

A rattling sound

A rattling sound is common. You usually hear this sound when you release the brake pedal. It usually sounds like the rattle you hear when shaking a can of paint. The most common cause of this noise is the brake pads, and that is a good thing. Brake pads can sometimes rattle due to heat/expansion. Bear in mind that this rattle should not be constant and it should never happen when you have your foot on the brake pedal. If this does happen, it is wise to have your brakes checked at your garage.

A scraping sound

A scraping noise when braking is usually a serious problem and should be addressed immediately. The most common causes of a scraping noise are:

If your brakes make a loud grinding noise when you press the pedal, this is almost always caused by worn brake pads. In this case, there is no or insufficient brake lining on the pads. The grinding noise is therefore caused by the brake block without lining being pressed against the disc.

It can also happen that a small stone has come between the disc brake and the brake pads. In some cases, the stone only gives a scraping noise when pressing the brake, but it can also be present constantly. 

In both cases, a visit to a garage is necessary to rectify the annoying noise.

A squeaking sound

In general, a squeaking noise during braking is not a major defect, but it can be very irritating. What often happens in practice is that when the brake pads are replaced, the brake disks are not also replaced. This is not always necessary, but then the new pads have to wear down and this can cause a squeaking noise. If the brake discs are almost worn out, then it is wise to replace them at the same time as fitting new brake pads.  

Beeping noise when fading brakes

"Brake fade is a condition in which the brakes have overheated and therefore do not function normally. Brake fade most commonly occurs in situations where the brakes are used much more frequently than normal, such as going down a mountain. This overheating can also cause the brakes to squeal. Below is a brief explanation of what fading is and how you can check it. 

What exactly is fading?

When you experience fading, it takes more effort to deliver the same braking power. One way to avoid fading is to brake more on the engine. Use a low gear so that the engine and drivetrain of the vehicle control the speed of the vehicle rather than just the brakes. If you think you are experiencing fading, you should always perform a pressure check on your brake system. This will check if the hydraulics on your brakes are still working correctly. You can perform a hydraulic check by pumping the pedal a few times when the car is parked. The pedal should become firmer and firmer with each pump, without becoming slack.