Reasons for Squeaking Noise When Pulling the Handbrake?
4 Answers
Due to the high frequency of brake usage, related components are constantly in a state of consumption and wear, with the rate of consumption and degree of wear closely related to the driver's habits. Sometimes, abnormal noises may occur when using the handbrake. Below is relevant information about the brakes: 1. Causes of abnormal noise: Issues with the brake shoes of the rear drum brakes; gaps at the handbrake cable fixing points causing friction; the material of the brake shoes, where the added metal components are too hard; poor assembly of the handbrake shoes and related accessories; possible abnormal noise when the ratchet is not fully engaged and operated again; caused by the handbrake return mechanism sticking; deterioration of the handbrake cable's elasticity. 2. Summary: The sounds from the brake system can be divided into two situations: one is caused by the handbrake return mechanism sticking, and the other is due to uneven friction surfaces between the brake shoes and the disc. The latter situation generally can only be addressed by grinding the brake shoes.
Every time I park and pull the handbrake, the squeaking sound gives me a headache—it's mainly the noise of metal friction. The most common causes are rusted handbrake shoes or iron dust stuck to the brake drum, especially after rain or leaving the car parked for days. I remember once after washing my car and parking it directly in the garage, the next day the handbrake sounded like a mouse squeaking. Also, a loose handbrake cable clip can cause friction noise; my old car often did this in sub-zero winters. If the squeaking is accompanied by a loose handbrake, it’s likely the return spring inside has failed. Don’t ignore it—my neighbor’s car once rolled downhill because of this issue. Now, I’ve made it a habit to press the brake pedal a couple more times before shutting off the engine and pulling the handbrake.
My old car always squeals when I pull the handbrake during the humid rainy season. The mechanic said it’s mainly due to moisture. After driving in the rain, if the car is parked immediately, water accumulates and causes rust between the brake drum and shoes. The next day, when I pull the handbrake, the rust grinds and makes that annoying screech. The mechanic taught me to lightly brake in reverse to wear off the rust layer, and it actually worked to silence the noise. Another trick I learned: when parking on a slope, don’t pull the handbrake to its full strength—about 70% force is enough. Pulling it too tight can fatigue the springs. If the squealing happens daily, check if the handbrake cable sleeve is cracked and letting in sand or grit. Once, my car had a small stone stuck in it, grinding for two months before I had to replace the entire cable set, costing over 400 yuan.
Last time during maintenance, the technician mentioned that handbrake noise is 90% likely a contact surface issue. When brake shoes wear thin, the springs loosen, preventing complete separation when releasing the handbrake, causing continuous friction and squealing. It's worse if grooves form on the brake drum surface - hard particles get embedded in the shoes and squeak endlessly. Last time the mechanic temporarily fixed it by sanding the contact surface, but warned that replacements are mandatory if wear exceeds 3mm. Now I check shoe thickness quarterly, especially after mountain driving. He also recommended using graphite-containing lubricant for mechanical handbrake maintenance.
