what does it mean when your brakes are squeaking?

Question

do i need to clean the pads? something else?

for the love of god i put this in the motorcycle section... no more car specific replies pls

Answer 1

Means you have to add cheese with that rice. Check pad thickness and if the wear indicator are touching, you need pads. if not, take the pads of use a sanding block to clean them off, with the rotors, clean them with brake spray and steel lightly sand the contact area.

Answer 2

There are several causes for squeaking brakes. Some depend on the type of vehicle you are driving and some on how many miles are on the care since the last break job. I will assume that you have a vehicle with modern caliper or disk brakes and try to explain how they work in order for you to understand what may be causing your noise problem.

The caliper brake assembly is fit onto the front and rear knuckle assembly behind each wheel of your vehicle. There is a large iron disk that your wheel is assembled to. The caliper brake assembly has 2 friction pads that strattle the disk. When you apply the brakes, the caliper squeezes these 2 friction pads against the disk and clamps tighter with the more pressure that you apply to the brake peddal, thus stopping the wheel from turning and the car from moving.

The 2 pads are designed to degrade over time, virtually wearing out with every stop. Normal brake pads require replacement in about 40,000 to 60,000 miles of normal driving. As the friction material ages it becomes hardened by the heat gernerated with use. Normal ambiant brake temerature is approxiamately 300 degrees. Depending on what friction material is in use, this hardness is enough to cause a squeeking condition when the brake is applied and contact is made to the turning disk.

Some brake pads have the friction material rivited to them, rather than glued. The rivets are recessed well beneeth the point or normal wear, but if one fails to change the brakes pads early enough, these rivets will start to contact the disk, causing a squeak, or squeel. This is a bad condition as the rivets will damage the iron disk beyond the point where it can be re-ground and they are expensive to replace.

Most disk brakes include a wear sensor. This is simply a soft metal tab that extends along the edge of the friction material to the point where it will contact the disk, causing a squeek that is intended to tell the driver it is time for replacement. If your brakes are squeeking with every stop, I would have a mechanic check the lining material for wear. This will not cause damange, as the wear inicator is designed of soft enough material so that it will not damage the disk. It is a good idea to have brakes checked and serviced quickly if noise is persistant, however.

Some brake squeaking is normal on some vehicles, as it is caused by hard spots in the friction or dirt between the friction and disk, which will go away in time. This type of noise, however, is normally very slight and not in anyway anoying. Any noise that you can clearly hear or is turning heads from people on the street corners should be addressed.

Although changing brake pads is relatively easy, there are things you should consider if you plan to do this yourself, or have it done by a pal. First, a good brake job includes inspection of the iron disk. The disk must not have grooves cut into it and it must be flat with run-out to within 0.005" and the front and back surfaces must also be paralell to one another. If this is not the case, your disks need to be ground true by a qualilfied machine shop that specializes in disk brake repair. The work is relatively inexpensive and will ensure that your brakes last a long time, providing safer performance.

I would advise that one installes OEM brake products rather than cheap aftermarket products that do not meet manufacturers original requirements. Keep in mind that brakes are the number one safety product on your vehicle. Car manufacturers spend thousands of dollars designing safe products and developing a supply base that can meet very tight quality standards. Your family and you are riding on these things, so take care. I hope this helps you understand how your brakes work and gives you an idea of what may be causing your squeaking brakes.

Answer 3

Three likely possibilities
1. The brake pads are glazed. This causes a high pitched squeal, particularly when the car is almost stopped. Roughening the pads or disks with sandpaper can stop or reduce this.
2. The brake pads are vibrating against their backing. This can be cured with shims or a sort of paste which can be put between the pad and backing.
3. The pads have worn away. Replace them at once or you will damage the brakes including the disks. This is usually but not always shown by squealing from the instant you apply the brakes.

Answer 4

squeaking brakes is normally a sign or either worn brakes or dust. Have your brakes checked. If they are squeaking form dust then you can use the brake grease that is sold at auto parts stores to place on the backs of the brakes not where the pads make contact to the rotor/drum.

Answer 5

Sounds like maybe you need to change the brake pads- or rather have a mechanic change them. It's simple, doesn't cost much, and has to be done once in a while. You could google it to find out how to change them yourself if you're good with directions and save yourself some money, but I would have a proffessional do it. I'm going to say there's a 99% chance that's your problem.

Answer 6

That can be difficult to get rid of some bikes do it more than others. More a design problem than anything else! Try cleaning your disks with a scotchbrite pad. Or degrease your pads and you can scuff them up a bit with sand paper

Answer 7

Ok... to the person that said check the oil.... Hello!!!!!!!!!!!

Do me a favor buddy dont ever use a tool......

Ok for the guy that asked if you have to clean pads. Pads dont have anything to be cleaned they are pads. they wear down. also it could be your roaters if you have worn a goove in them the fricken bewteen you (i am guessing) non-existing pads and the roater you are probley tearing them up.

Oh and if you are thining to change them yourself i would not. since you think they are able to be cleaned i dont recommend it.

Did you know that if you replaced your brakes and they failed and you got into an accident and it was found out that the brakes failed because of operator negligence in trying to do them him (or her) self that you could be charged with the whole thing. and you insurence would not pay it.....

Leave the maintenance for hte people who know what their doing and for the love of god just put the tools down and stop pretending you know what a screwdriver is.

Now give me my points.

Answer 8

check the oil? Whatever it is, get a local mechanic friend to diagnosis is before you waste a bunch of money at the mechanics store.

Answer 9

Genraly it means its time to chang them