Can You Still Drive with Squeaky Brake Pads?

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You can still drive with squeaky brake pads. If the noise is a slight hissing sound and not very loud, it may indicate small debris like pebbles on the brake pads, and the noise will gradually disappear after driving for a while. However, if you hear a sharp, high-pitched "squeal" during hard braking, this can significantly damage both the brake pads and rotors, so try to minimize sudden stops. The causes of squeaky brake pads are as follows: 1. Using low-quality or overly hard brake pads. Inferior or excessively hard brake pads may produce a squealing noise when they rub against the rotors. Replace them with high-quality brake pads. 2. Sand or debris between the brake pads and rotors. While driving, it's inevitable to encounter rough road conditions. Due to the design of disc brakes, sand or debris can get lodged between the pads and rotors, causing noise during braking. 3. Brake pad wear indicator. Some brake pads have electronic wear indicators, while budget cars may use mechanical wear indicators. If the brake pads are worn down to the warning level, they will emit a squealing alarm sound, indicating an immediate replacement is needed.