Imagine cruising down the highway, and then your brakes suddenly release a high-pitched squeal.
We get it — it’s annoying! But on the bright side, that’s your car’s way of telling you something needs attention.
So, what could be the problem?
Here are the common causes of squeaky brakes:
- Exposure to moisture
- Lack of lubrication
- Exposure to extreme cold weather
- Worn-out brake pads
- A stuck brake caliper
- High metal content in brake pads
- Debris in the braking system
- Your personal braking style
- Loose or improperly installed components
- Improper or incomplete break-in procedure
Some squeaks disappear after a few stops, while others signal problems that can wear down key components or put your safety at risk.
In this article, we’ll break down the 10 common causes of squeaky brakes and explain how a qualified mechanic can fix them. We’ll also check out why it could be unsafe to drive with squeaky brakes and the long-term costs of ignoring this issue.
This Article Contains:
- The 10 Common Causes Behind Squeaky Brakes
- Is It Safe to Drive with Squeaky Brakes?
- What Are the Long-Term Costs of Ignoring Squeaky Brakes?
- 3 FAQs About Squeaky Brakes
Let’s brake into it!
The 10 Most Common Causes Behind Squeaky Brakes
Here are ten reasons you may have squealing or squeaking brakes:
1. Exposure to Moisture
The most common cause of a squealing sound when you step on the brake pedal is moisture. If your brakes are exposed to water, rain, or high humidity, a thin rust layer will start forming on the rotor.
So, you shouldn’t panic when your brakes get wet and squeal! That’s just normal brake noise.
How to fix: Prevent any long-term exposure of your brake pads to rain and moisture.
2. Lack of Lubrication
Most new vehicles have disc brakes. Some older models still have drum brakes at the rear, and so do vintage models, but all around.
If your brake shoe to backing plate contact points (in drum brakes) aren’t adequately lubricated, they’ll begin to rust. The brake shoe will scrape against the backing plate, which creates the telltale rhythmic squeaking noise as the tires rotate.
How to fix: The best way to prevent this brake noise is to do regular maintenance and keep the contact points lubricated with brake grease.
NOTE: Don’t confuse brake fluid with brake lubricant (like brake grease). Brake fluid is the hydraulic fluid in your brake lines that helps transfer braking pressure.
3. Exposure to Extreme Cold Weather
Extreme cold weather conditions are another common cause of squeaky brakes. When it’s below freezing, a layer of ice can form on your brake pad. While this doesn’t affect your braking ability or safety, it can cause an annoying squealing noise when you brake.
Driving through dense snow or water will intensify the squeaking brakes, and the build-up layer will grow. It’ll take longer to wear off, but the icy layer and distracting squeaking sound will disappear as your brakes heat up.
The moisture can, however, cause a thin layer of rust to form on your brakes, but this buildup will wear out after a bit of braking.
How to fix: Consider parking your car in a garage or keeping it covered overnight. You can install a block heater to warm the engine and other mechanical components of your vehicle, including the brakes.
4. Worn-Out Brake Pads
Squealing brakes are perfectly normal when brake pads wear down after years of use.
Most disc brake sets have a wear indicator attached to the inside and will make contact with the rotor surface before the pads are completely worn. When you have worn brake pads, you’ll hear a terrible brake squeal.
How to fix: Once you hear a brake squeal, it’s time to contact a mechanic and have your worn-out brake pads changed. Sometimes a rotor is too far gone, along with your thinned brake pad, and you’ll have to replace it too.
That said, the brake system in some modern cars has electronic wear indicators attached to the pad that trigger a warning light when they come into contact with the brake rotor surface. This adds a visual warning and allows you to have your worn brake pads replaced before you have to endure brake squeak.
5. A Stuck Caliper
If you hear a squealing sound even when you’re not applying the car brakes, you could possibly have stuck or frozen calipers.
A stuck caliper in your disc brake can happen for several reasons, from issues with the caliper slides to the caliper piston.
How to fix: Get in touch with a mechanic to have the issue sorted before your brakes lock up completely.
6. High Metal Content in Brake Pads
Not all disc brake pads are created equal.
High-performance carbon–metallic brake pads are prone to squeaking. Brake pads with a high content of organic brake material, such as resin, rubber, and Kevlar, squeak the least against the braking surface.
Semi-metallic brake pads have a high metal content pressed into the brake pad material. These metal pieces will continue to scrape against your brake disc, creating a louder ride. Bear in mind that semi-metallic brake pads are often used in high-performance applications.
How to fix: Semi-metallic brake pads are probably not the best option when looking for replacement brake pads for your day-to-day driving. Opt for premium disc brake pads (like ceramic brake pads) that generate less noise and have great stopping power as well.
7. Debris in the Braking System
Brake dust isn’t the only friction material that causes squeaking. Sand, mud, or metal debris may be lodged in the pad or brake rotor, scraping the pad.
The more time you spend driving off-road, the more likely there’ll be dirt on the braking surface, which means you’ll have more brake noise.
How to fix: The easiest way to address a squeak caused by dirt is to apply a brake cleaner or sand down the brake pad surface.
8. Your Personal Braking Style
If you repeatedly press the brake lever or ride your brakes, the heat generated will cause the surface of your brake pads to glaze. This braking style also puts extra strain on the brake caliper, which may cause it to stick and keep the pads pressed against the rotor — leading to even more glazing and squealing.
Either way, glazed brake pads no longer generate the friction needed to stop when you hit the brake pedal. They’re vulnerable to cracks or fractures, and they make a squeaking noise. As a result, you’ll need to get new brake pads.
How to fix: You can check for any sign of glazing by running your finger along the surface of your brake pad and trying to feel for a smooth and glassy finish. If your brake pads are glazed, schedule a brake service to get new brake pads as soon as possible.
Most importantly, if glazing or brake squeaking is a constant problem, you’ll need to rethink your braking style.
9. Loose or Improperly Installed Components
Brake squeaking isn’t always caused by worn-out parts. Sometimes, the issue is related to how the components were installed. If brake pads, shims, or clips aren’t fitted correctly, they can move around slightly during braking and create high-pitched squealing noises.
How to fix: The best way to avoid this issue is to have your brakes replaced by a professional. A mechanic can check your entire braking system and ensure everything is installed properly and torqued to the manufacturer’s specifications.
10. Improper or Incomplete Break-In Procedure
New brake pads and rotors need to go through a proper break-in (or bedding-in) process to transfer an even layer of friction material to the rotor surface. If you skip this process or do it incorrectly, the pads may develop uneven deposits, which cause vibration and squealing.
How to fix: Follow the manufacturer’s recommended break-in procedure whenever you install new pads and rotors. This usually involves a series of controlled stops from different speeds to gradually build up heat and transfer material evenly.
Is It Safe to Drive with Squeaky Brakes?
In most cases, a light squeak isn’t immediately dangerous. For example, even if your breaks are in good condition, moisture on the rotors or a thin layer of surface rust can cause temporary noise that disappears after a few stops.
To avoid costly repairs in the long run, have a mechanic inspect your brakes as soon as you notice a continuous squeaking sound.
What Are the Long-Term Costs of Ignoring Squeaky Brakes?
Overlooking squeaky brakes can cost you anywhere from $170 to $1,700+ per axle, depending on the extent of the damage. This includes labor charges of $100-$200 per axle.
Let’s check out the costs involved.
A. Disc Brake Systems:
Here’s what replacing different disc brake parts typically costs:
- Brake pads only: $170-$270 per axle
- Brake pads + rotors: $370-$550 per axle, if both the pads and rotors need replacement
- Brake calipers: $1,340-$1,700 per axle
B. Drum Brake Systems
Below are the costs of ignoring squeaks on vehicles with drum brake systems:
- Brake drum: $295-$425 each
- Brake shoes: $235-$345 per axle
- Wheel cylinder: $165-$280 each
3 FAQs About Squeaky Brakes
Here are the answers to some of the additional questions you may have about squeaky brakes:
1. Does Brake Squeaking Always Mean the Brakes Are Hot?
No, not always. While heat can cause pads to glaze and squeal, other factors can contribute to this issue. For example, moisture, dust, worn pads, or loose hardware can all create squeaky sounds without the brakes actually being hot.
2. Would Putting Lubricant on My Brakes Stop the Squeaking?
Lubrication can help in certain cases, but it’s not a fix for every type of brake noise.
A qualified mechanic applies brake grease to areas such as caliper pins, slide rails, bushings, and the contact points where pads sit in the caliper. These spots are prone to vibration, and lubrication keeps them moving smoothly and quietly.
However, you should never apply lubricant to the friction surfaces of the brake pads or rotors, as this will reduce stopping power and create a dangerous driving condition.
3. Why Do My Brakes Squeal at Low Speeds Only?
Squeaking at low speeds often happens because there’s less braking force applied, which allows high-frequency vibrations between the pad and rotor to be heard more clearly.
At higher speeds or harder braking, the noise may be masked by road sounds or dampened by greater brake pressure.
The squealing sound is usually caused by glazed brake pads, light surface rust, or vibrating brake hardware. If you notice any sign of squealing, grinding, or vibration, it’s a good idea to have a mechanic inspect your brakes as soon as possible.
Brake Safely and Quietly with AutoNation Mobile Service
All brakes squeal occasionally. Heat and moisture can cause it, and that’s perfectly normal. But if the squeaking is consistent, louder than usual, or your stopping power has decreased, it might be time for new brakes.
For a thorough brake service, no one does it better than the professionals. And that’s where AutoNation Mobile Service comes in.
Contact us, and our expert technicians will fix the faulty brake system from your driveway!