Why Are My Brakes Squeaking?

Whether it’s coming from your car or one that’s passing by, you’ve probably heard squeaky brakes before. That infamous sound is known the world over, but what does it mean? Why are your brakes squeaking? Energy Country Ford finds out. To help drivers in Port Arthur and Nederland, Texas, and Lake Charles, Louisiana, learn more about your brakes, we looked at the causes and what you should do if your brakes are squeaking.

Breaking Down Your Brakes

Believe it or not, your brakes are actually designed to squeak. That’s because they use friction to reduce your speed and slow your car down. It all starts with how much pressure you put on the brake pedal. That forces brake fluid through the brake lines, where it quickly arrives at a set of calipers.

Think of these calipers as a set of clamps. They hover just above the rotors in the wheels. After you step on the brake pedal, they move in and make contact with the rotors. However, the calipers alone can’t cause enough friction to slow the rotors down. That’s where the brake pads come in.

Brake pads are designed to cause friction, so your wheels will slow down and come to a complete stop. Over time, the brake pads experience wear and tear. Eventually, they’ll need to be replaced. This is where the squeaky sound comes in.

Squeaky Brakes: Causes

Most brake pads are designed with a tiny indicator tab inside them. Once the pads have worn down, this tab makes contact with the rotors and causes the notorious squeaky sound. So, squeaky brakes are actually a built-in alert, so you know when they need maintenance.

There are a couple other causes of squeaky brakes though, but they’re nothing to worry about. Moisture is another culprit. If it rains overnight, you might have squeaky brakes first thing in the morning. This is caused by a light layer of rust the formed from moisture settling on the rotors. Typically, this goes away after you use the brakes a couple times.

You may also hear your brakes making some sounds after you get new brake pads installed. It’s nothing to worry about. The new pads just need to be broken in.

Brake Pad Maintenance Schedule

How often will you need to get you brake pads replaced, then? Well, that all depends on how you drive. Hitting the brakes hard and often will wear the brake pads down a lot faster than if you consistently come to a slow gradual stop.

Still, every car, truck, and SUV has a recommended maintenance schedule. Since brakes vary by driver, a service technicians will inspect your brake pads, rotors, brake-fluid levels, and brake lines every time you come in for your regular maintenance appointments.

Schedule Brake Service

To learn more about why your brakes are squeaking, visit the service center at Energy Country Ford. Our factory-trained technicians can help drivers in Port Arthur and Nederland, TX, and Lake Charles, LA, with all their brake service and questions. Schedule service online if you’ve heard your brakes squeaking lately or contact us to set up an appointment.