Brake Repair - Find Out What That Squealing Noise Is All About

Owning a vehicle means you have to be prepared to handle upkeep. This includes getting brake repair when needed.

There are times when you hear certain noises, like squealing when trying to stop your car. The interesting thing is that there may not be anything wrong and it’s likely that you may not need to get brake repair. Discover a few causes of the noises and what you can do about it.

Material

More and more these days, cars tend to squeak more when pressing the brake. In previous years, any type of squeaking sent off a red flag to owners and most people ending up getting some type of brake repair. However, squeaking may not be a direct sign of a problem. That’s because car manufactures are creating systems that are made with a bit of metal, which produces a squeaking noise. In the past, asbestos was used, which the government put a stop to. However, the reason for using the metallic components is because they are known to be very effective when trying to stop a car. Metallic brakes also last longer and can be more durable; it’s just that they require more metal in order for them to be more durable. This causes more friction, which results in screeching or squealing noises that can be really hard on the ears.

Vibrations

There are many parts involved in a braking system. It consists of pads, rotors and more. All these pieces will vibrate and eventually cause squeaking. That’s because the rotor is made of metal and the pads consist of metal pieces. Even though the rotors and the pads have a smooth surface, there’s still the possibility of squeaking depending on how much metal is in each piece. When they come together, everything vibrates and the noise can be heard down the street. It’s possible to have rotors finished to help minimize such noise, but it may not get rid of the sound all together. Just keep in mind that many car companies don’t feel that this noise is anything to worry about.

Other causes

Besides the materials and vibrations, there are times when you need brake repair because of squeaking. For instance, if your padding is worn down or doesn’t fit properly, that could cause squeaking as well as a problem with your system. Also, a system will sometimes have missing clips, springs or other hardware essential for safe operation. Furthermore, if you’ve been in an accident and had to have work done on your car, there could be an issue where something wasn’t attached correctly. All these things are reasons to get your vehicle checked out to help prevent any further problems.

Solutions

Seeing an expert is key when trying to solve your screeching issues. You will not want to assume that your problem is simply a noise issue and nothing else. If you are not an expert, you will not truly know if you need brake repair or not. If you find out that the system is working properly, then you can choose to simply live with the noise, or you may consider a few brake repair or maintenance options, such as getting pads that are said to be quieter than normal pads. Just be prepared to spend a bit more money in the long run, since these do not last as long and will need to be replaced more frequently.