Do you hear a squeaking, grinding, or rattling sound when you hit the brakes?
Strange noises in your brake system can affect your braking performance and put you at risk while on the road.
What can you do about it?
Let’s take a closer look at brake noise by exploring three common types, their potential causes, and solutions.
This Article Contains
- What Is Brake Noise?
- 3 Common Brake Noises (+Causes and Remedies)
- Is It Safe to Drive with Noisy Brakes?
- How to Prevent Brake Noise
- 5 FAQs about Brake Noise
What Is Brake Noise?
Brake noise refers to any unusual noise when applying or releasing the brakes. It can range from squeaking to grinding and indicate various issues, from a minor concern to a serious brake problem.
While it’s normal for the brake system to have some vibrations, they’re usually too small to hear. If the noise is loud and constant, it’s a sign that something may need attention.
Now, let’s understand the common types of brake noises and what causes them.
3 Common Brake Noises (+Causes and Remedies)
Here are three unusual brake sounds to look out for, along with their causes and solutions:
1. Squealing or Squeaking Noise
If you hear a squeaking or squealing noise, here’s what could’ve caused it:
A. Worn Brake Pad Material
Brake pads have a metal wear indicator — also known as a brake wear indicator. This metal tab rubs against the brake disc when the brake pads are worn out, causing friction and a squeaky brake.
Solution: Get a replacement for your worn brake pad set before you end up damaging your brake rotor.
B. Dirty Brakes
In a disc brake system, brake dust can cause a squeaky brake by creating friction between the pad and the rotor. Likewise, in drum brakes, the sound could result from accumulated brake dust and debris within the drums.
Solution: Inspect the dirty brakes to remove dust and foreign debris on every affected brake component.
C. Glazed Brake Rotor or Drum
Over time, the brake rotor or drum can develop a glazed finish due to wear and excess heat. This can also lead to glazed brake pads and cause them to make a squealing or squeaking noise.
Solution: Check each disc rotor or drum for signs of damage, such as cracks and heat spots. Based on the extent of damage your brake parts will need resurfacing or replacement.
D. No Lubrication on the Brakes
In a vehicle with rear drum brakes, you may hear a squealing sound if the backing plate and other brake components aren’t properly lubricated. Meanwhile, a squeal or squeak in a disc brake system could result from a sticky caliper piston, which prevents the retraction of brake pads.
Solution: Lubricate and clean all the necessary components of your car’s brakes, such as the caliper piston, the backing plate, the disc rotor, and brake pad contact points.
E. Poor-Quality Friction Material (Brake Lining)
Brake lining composed of poor-quality friction material may wear unevenly, overheat, or fail to absorb vibrations properly, resulting in loud squealing noises.
Solution: Buy high-quality ceramic or semi-metallic brake pad material from a trusted auto shop and have a reliable mechanic install it for you.
2. Grinding Noise
A grinding noise in your brakes can occur due to several causes:
A. Worn Brake Pad or Brake Shoe Material
A grinding brake noise usually means the brake shoe or pad is worn out. This causes excessive heat build-up from friction in the braking system, as worn parts are less effective at dissipating heat.
Solution: Replace worn and tapered pads before the friction material undergoes extreme wear. However, avoid buying cheap brake pads or shoes, as these will wear away sooner.
B. Sticking Caliper or Wheel Cylinder
In a disc brake system, a sticking caliper occurs when it fails to release correctly. This causes it to continuously press the brake pads against the disc rotor, leading to brake grinding. If the rotor disc is in contact with part of the caliper, the caliper can also make a loud grinding sound.
Meanwhile, brake grinding is produced in a drum brake system when a stuck wheel cylinder continuously jams the brake shoe against the drum.
Solution: Remove the caliper and lubricate its slide pins for disc brakes. For drum brakes, grease the contact points of the wheel cylinder to ensure smooth operation. If lubrication doesn’t fix the issue, you’ll need to replace the components.
3. Clattering, Vibrating, or Rattling Noise
Here are common causes of a judder (vibration) or rattling noise when pressing the brake pedal:
A. Warped Rotor
A warped rotor causes the rotor surface to make uneven contact with the brake pads, resulting in pedal pulsation, a vibrating steering wheel, or a thumping noise. It may not vibrate audibly at high speeds but will cause a clattering sound when braking at low speed.
Solution: Have a mechanic check the brake system and replace the warped rotor or drum to fix the vibration or thumping sound.
NOTE: Poor wheel alignment can also cause uneven wear on brake pads and rotors, increasing the likelihood of noise when braking.
B. Incorrect Adjustments or Missing Brake Hardware
Vibrations and unusual noise can occur if brake components like anti-rattle clips, shims, or brake linings are missing or improperly adjusted. However, a judder, pedal pulsation, or a vibrating steering wheel could also be caused by other car parts, like a worn-out ball joint or wheel bearing.
Solution: Have a mechanic diagnose your brake system noise and ensure you’re not using the wrong brake material. They’ll also let you know if you need to replace missing or damaged hardware like the caliper bracket, wheel bearing, anti-rattle clip, and other car parts.
C. Dirty Caliper Slides
Dirty brake caliper slides prevent the proper functioning of brake pads and cause the brake caliper to stick, creating a vibration or clattering noise.
Solution: Get a mechanic to clean the caliper slides and any other dirty brake components that might cause an unusual noise or vibration.
Now that we’ve covered the common brake noises let’s discuss whether you can continue to drive with it.
Is It Safe to Drive with Noisy Brakes?
Definitely not!
Driving with worn-out or damaged brakes can increase the risk of brake failure, making driving unsafe. Malfunctioning brakes can lead to accidents, injuries, or even fatalities for you and others on the road.
If you notice brake noises or any signs of brake problems, have your brakes inspected and repaired by a professional immediately.
It’s also important to take proactive steps to avoid these risks.
Up next are some practical tips for keeping your car brakes in top condition.
How to Prevent Brake Noise: 3 Practical Tips
Follow these best practices to keep your braking system running smoothly and minimize brake noise issues:
- Regular brake maintenance: You should check the entire brake system regularly (typically every 6 months), including inspection of brake pads and calipers. Address any issues that arise promptly.
- Proper pad installation: Ensure your brake pads are securely installed and correctly positioned with all necessary hardware, such as shims and clips. This minimizes vibrations and prevents the pads from rattling or shifting, which can cause noise during braking.
- High-quality brake pads: Use reliable brake pads that meet OEM (original equipment manufacturer) standards to ensure optimal performance and reduce noise.
Got more queries about brake noise?
Keep scrolling!
5 FAQs about Brake Noise
Here are the answers to some questions you may have about car brake noise:
1. What Are the Main Signs of Failing Brakes?
In addition to brake noise, here are other important warning signs of failing brakes:
- Illuminated brake warning light and slow stopping: If the brake warning light is illuminated and your car takes too long to stop, it may be due for a brake service.
- Leaking brake fluid: If your car leaks brake fluid, it might not have enough power to force the front and rear brake pads against the brake discs. And if the brake fluid continues leaking, you can end up with brake failure.
- Soft or hard brake pedal: If the brake pedal is too soft or hard to push, schedule a brake service as soon as possible. There might be air in the brakes, or your brake booster could be faulty.
- Unbalanced stopping: If one brake caliper applies a lot of pressure during braking, it can cause unbalanced stopping.
- Overheating brakes: If your car’s brakes start overheating, you could notice signs of light squeaking when you hit the brake pedal. This would usually be accompanied by a burning smell while you’re driving.
2. Can Your Brakes Squeal When You Are Not Applying Them?
Both your front and rear brakes can squeal even when your foot isn’t on the brake pedal. This happens anytime the brake pad wear indicators touch the rotors.
If your car’s brakes squeal or make noise, schedule a brake inspection with an auto repair technician.
3. How Much Does a Brake Job Cost?
A brake repair job could cost between $950 to $1,300 (including labor costs of $100 to $200 per axle).
Here’s the cost breakdown for each brake type:
A. Disc Brakes
- Brake pad: $35 and $150 (for all four wheels)
- Brake caliper: $620 to $750 per caliper
- Brake rotor: $200 to $280 per axle
B. Drum Brakes
- Brake drum: $195 to $225
- Brake shoe: $135 to $145
- Wheel cylinder: $65 to $80
You might have to spend less if the brake job involves resurfacing the rotor (between $20 and $60 per rotor) or repairing any part instead of getting a replacement.
4. Why Do New Brake Pads Squeak?
Your new brake pads could be squeaking because of a lack of lubrication at the caliper and brake pad contact points. You could also hear brake squeaking if you’re using the wrong brake pads.
And that’s not all.
Your new brake pads could be noisy if they aren’t fitted properly. Each brake pad needs to be installed correctly into its caliper bracket to avoid uneven braking and strange noises.
5. How Often Do You Need to Change Your Brake Pads?
Brake pads typically need to be changed every 30,000 to 35,000 miles in stop-and-go city traffic. In less demanding conditions, such as highway driving with light traffic, they may need to be replaced every 80,000 miles or more.
You may require less frequent brake service if you use high-quality brake pads and have good driving habits.
Resolve Brake Noise Issues with AutoNation Mobile Service
Driving with noisy brakes is risky and can lead to costly repairs down the road.
If you hear unusual sounds or notice changes in braking performance, avoid driving and schedule a brake inspection with AutoNation Mobile Service today.
Our automotive technicians can resolve your brake noise problems or any other brake repair needs right from your driveway. We’re available seven days a week with easy online booking. Our services also come with upfront pricing and a 12-month, 12,000-mile repair warranty.
Contact us for a quote today.