What causes the brakes to squeak on a mid-size pick-up and how can I stop it?

Answer 1

You'll have to pull your tires and look at the brake pads, both front and back. There are 2 possible reasons they squeak. Reason 1 is they are worn down to the indicator tab and the noise is designed to get you to change your pads before they are worn to the point where they damage the rotor. Reason 2 is that the pads can vibrate inside the caliper and make noise. Car manufacturers have made several things to help prevent this, including shims to be placed behind the pads and a special lubricant that is applied to the BACK (metal) side of the pads. If this is the case, check with your local auto parts store for these items.

Answer 2

If they squeak when applying the brakes, the pads are probably crystallized. Go to the parts house and get some Brake Quiet Spray and spray the metal part of the pads.
Master tech 40 yrs.

Answer 3

Could be many things .

Disc Brake or Drum Brake ???

If Drum:-

It is often due to a build up of brake shoe dust in the drum , Remove the Drum and blow out all the dust ( Wear a mask , Most brakes still have asbestos in them - That stuff kills ! )

Could also be Brake Shoe rubbing on Backing plate , So a SMALL smear of Hi Temp grease on the shoes where they contact the backing plate will silence it .

The Self adjusters may be loose or frozen up , Adjust or lubricate as required .

If Disc :-

May be pad rattle , Check to see that the Pad Anti-Rattle springs are not broken or missing , Also a small smear of grease on the side of the pad where it runs on the sides of the Calipers .

On a nasty case of Pad rattle ( As Australian LH / LX Torana's have ) , A light ring of Silastic on the Caliper Piston will hold the inboard pad in place and silence it .

Having said all that , Everyone elses answers are worthy of looking at .

Answer 4

Brake pads have sencors on theem and thee squeeking is a sign that they should be changed, on the other hand, if thee brake pads are new and the truck sits around with not much use , they can develope a coating of dust on the rotors that will cause squeeking. Either way, not a big job to do it yourself, good luck...

Answer 5

This has nothing to do with a mid-sizeD pickup, and everything to do with your brakes. When they squeak, you need new brake pads.

Answer 6

All of the other answers are good, but no one mentioned FLASH BUILD UP. its build up on the edge of your brake pads. If you used a cheaper set of pads and rotors this is quite common, try taking some sandpaper and hit the edge of the pads with it before dumping money into other options, the sandpaper thing will only cost you a few minutes of your own sweat and blood.

Answer 7

you dont necessarily need new brake pads or discs.

squeaking can be because your pads/discs are "glassed" which usually involves high speed slow braking, generating high heat but low wear yes?

have a look at one of your wheel stations and look for any chipping wich would tell you that it's been going on for a long time and then yeah, change them all.

EDIT: most answers are decent but to reiterate what someone else said, wear a mask and goggles or sand paper them down in kero to keep the asbestos dust down, make sure the pads are left to dry over at least 24 hours.

Answer 8

Squeak, squeak. Time to change those brakes.

Answer 9

there is a piece of metal on the pads that makes them squeak when they are in need of being replaced. if you wait much longer you will be replacing rotors which are very expensive!!!

Answer 10

sounds like you need new brakes and also check your rotors for scratched if they have them change them too