Why Are My Brakes Screeching? The Science Behind Brake Noises

“Don’t Ignore That Squealing Sound: Common Brake Issues Explained

How to Tell If Your Brake Noises Are Normal or Cause for Concern

Are your brakes squeaking, grinding, or rattling when you hit the pedal to stop your car? Weird noises in your brake system can affect your vehicle’s performance and put you at risk on the road. If you’re concerned, you should take your car to a mechanic to fix the noisy brakes.

Silence Those Squeaky Brakes: Solutions for Brake Noise

The three most common brake noises are grinding noises when brakes are depressed, a thumping noise from the rear, and a squeaky noise while braking or driving. You may also hear squealing. That’s caused by the rotors or a scraping noise while driving or turning. However, if you hear a grinding noise when using your brakes, you need to stop driving immediately. A lack of brake pad material usually causes a grinding noise on braking. The pads and rotors are now metal to metal with no breaking material left. Remember that brake pads are very much like bars of soap and eventually get used up. If you don’t replace them and you get to the point of grinding, imagine dollar signs rising in the air every time you step on the brake pedal. If your brakes are grinding, you must stop and call a tow truck immediately. If you’re lucky, your brake pads can just be replaced rather than having the rotors resurfaced for your car. If you replace brake pads on time, you can often keep your rotors, even if you are driving despite the grinding noise. You might have damaged discs or disks installed incorrectly if you hear low-frequency noises. If you’re hearing medium frequency or squealing, you likely have poorly fitted brake pads, or your discs are just too thin. Finally, the high frequency or squeaking noise is usually caused by vibration within the friction material during the application of the brakes. Remember, if you’re hearing squeaking or squealing, it may be because brake pads include indicators of wear that rub against the rotor and make a squeaking noise when the pads have worn down beyond a certain point.

Bring Us Your Brake Problems

If your brakes are beginning to make noise, it’s important to get to a mechanic like those found at Jeff’s Auto Repair in the Seattle, Washington area. We have been in business since 1980, so our technicians have nearly 40 years of experience with every make and model vehicle. We are not just auto service experts but your vehicle’s best friend. Our ASE-certified technicians are eager to service and solve your automotive problems. We treat our customers like family and customer service like an art. We will inspect and diagnose the problem you’re having with your brake system. We cover all our repairs with a 24-month/24,000-mile warranty, so you can rest assured that we’ve done the repairs correctly the first time. Our technicians work hard to stay on top of industry advancements and cutting-edge technology. Give us a call today at one of our three locations, and let us look at your brakes for you.