Squeaky brakes are a typical and common frustrating experience for vehicle owners. Whereas the noise can be annoying, it doesn’t always necessarily mean there’s a serious problem with your brakes.
A lot of times, squeaking occurs when lightly depressing the brake pedal or slowing to a stop, and it can be caused by aspects such as the brake pads material or environmental factors. Nevertheless, knowing the difference between ordinary squeaks and more serious issues is important for your safety and other drivers.
Why Are Your Brakes Squeaky?
If you want to stop brake squeals from occurring, you are going to need to first understand why they are squealing. The source of the squealing depends on different factors. A continual squeal when pressing the brake pedal can often typically be brake pads that have worn down to the wear indicators, in which there are metal tabs on the brake pads. These tabs are intended to let when to replace your vehicles’ brakes! When the squeak is less drastic, it only occurs when you’re hardly touching the pedal or seem to have a pulsing-like rhythm to it, there is a strong chance the pads are pulsating when light pressure is applied, making them squeak. Sticking caliper slides making the pads drag on the rotors.
Causes of Squeaky/ Squealing Brakes
- Older, worn-out brake hardware pad clips
- Inadequate lubrication on pad/caliper points of contact
The following is going to cover what each of these means and involves.
Squeaky/ squealy brakes can be caused by different factors, some of which are harmless whereas others may indicate the requirement for maintenance. The following is a breakdown of the most typical causes:
Worn Brake Pads
Many brake pads are going to come with brake wear indicators that signal when it’s time to replace them. As the pads get worn down, the indicator comes in contact with the brake rotor, creating a squealing sound whenever you depress your brake pedal. This usually occurs when the pads have around 1/8 to 1/4 inch of material remaining. If you hear a continual squeal, it’s a clear indication that your brake pads require replacing.
Tired and Impaired Brake Hardware
The pad clips that retain the brake pads in place are vital for decreasing noise and guarantee the pads don’t move too much. After a while, these clips can break down because of continual heat cycles, which makes them lose their tension, in turn, causes the pads to vibrate, leading to squealing. Brake hardware should additionally be replaced along with the pads because it only lasts as long as the pads are going to. Declining to have worn-out clips replaced can result in unneeded noise and uneven brake pad wear.
Moisture and Lubrication Issues
Following periods not using your brakes, moisture can build up on the surface of brake pads and rotors, which leads to rust. This rust can cause a rough rubbing noise or squealing the first few times you brake as it gets worn off. In addition, incorrect lubrication of vital brake components, like the brake pad sides and caliper slide pins, could also lead to squealing brakes. Slide pins, which enable the calipers to float between the rotors, require routine maintenance and lubrication. With incorrect lubrication, the pins could seize, resulting in uneven pad wear and brake noise.
Brake Pad Material
The material your brake pads are made from can also have an impact on how much noise they could make. Brakes that are semi-metallic, for instance, are more likely to create occasional squeaking because of their metal content. Whereas this type of brake pad provides excellent durability and heat resistance, the trade-off is an increased likelihood of noise, particularly throughout light braking.
Steps to Fix Squeaky Brakes
Now that you have an understanding of the factors that can contribute to why your brakes are Squeaking/ squealing and what the most typical causes are, you’re ready to address the issue itself. There are multiple steps you can utilize at home by doing a brake replacement that can help stop these occurrences. Or, if you require professional help, make a call to Rov-N-Techs today.
Land Rover Repairs By Rov-N-Techs In Scottsdale, Arizona
Rov-N-Techs performs all factory recommended services on Land Rovers & Jaguars at affordable prices! Master Technicians, Joe Caraway and Kevin Curtis worked at Land Rover of North Scottsdale for 10 years before opening their own shop in 2006 under the name of “Rover Techs”. Now known as “Rov-N-Techs” Joe and Kevin offer over 35 years of combined Land Rover experience. Contact us today!
