Why Are My Brakes Squeaking?

Are you noticing a distinct squeaking sound coming from your brakes during your Pensacola, Crestview, and Fort Walton Beach drives? The service experts at World Ford Pensacola have provided the following information to give you an idea of what could be causing these noises.

How Your Brakes Are Configured

Let’s take a quick moment to cover the basics, so you can have a clear picture of how your brakes work before we go into the different reasons why they might be malfunctioning.

A brake is composed of a rotor, or disc, and two brake pads situated on either side. When you apply the brake, it is the pressure from the pads as they push against the rotor that makes the vehicle slow down or come to a stop.

While the rotor is cast-iron, the brake pads can be made of a variety of materials. There are three kinds of brake pads in use today. These are: semi-metallic, ceramic, and organic. Semi-metallic brake pads are the most common and are made up of a combination of steel, graphite, copper, and iron.

Your brakes should generally last for 25,000 to 70,000 miles. However, this lifespan can be reduced considerably depending on wear and tear, driving behavior, and the quality of your brakes. Here are some of the most common reasons why your brakes might be squeaking.

New Parts

If your rotor or brake pads have been replaced recently, don’t be surprised if you experience some squeaking within the first few days. This is quite common. If it goes on longer than that, you should take your car in to see if it’s something more serious.

Water on Brake Pads

If it has rained recently or there is dew on the ground, the squeaking you hear could merely be a sign that your brake pads have some of this moisture on them. The squeaking occurs when the brakes are applied and the water is being scraped off the pads. Once all the water is scraped off, the squeaking should stop.

Worn Down Brake Pads

When the insulation on your brake pads wears down far enough, the resulting noise you’re hearing is metal grinding against metal.

Some brake pads contain steel clips called wear indicators. When the pads wear down and these clips become exposed, they’ll start to squeak to let you know it’s time to get the pads replaced.

Loose Parts

Sometimes, when you hear squeaking noises coming from your brakes, it’s because something has gotten loose or broken off. For example, you’ll often hear squeaking when the anti-rattle clips that hold your brake pads in place have broken. Brake shims, the thin metal or rubber pads that reduce brake noise, will also start to squeak if they wear out or break.

Have Your Brakes Checked Regularly

If you’re in the Pensacola, Crestview, or Fort Walton Beach areas, and your brakes are squeaking or it’s about time to get them checked, contact World Ford Pensacola to schedule your service appointment.