What are the causes of brake disc noise?
3 Answers
The causes of brake disc noise are: 1. Corrosion of the brake disc or brake pads; 2. The brake pads are new; 3. Excessive wear of the brake disc and brake pads; 4. The brake pads are installed incorrectly or the model does not match; 5. Use of inferior or overly hard brake pads; 6. Abnormal brake caliper or lack of brake fluid; 7. Presence of foreign objects between the brake drum or disc and the shoes. The solutions for brake disc noise are: 1. Apply butter or special lubricating oil at the connection between the brake pads and the brake caliper; 2. Regularly inspect and replace the brake pads; 3. Regularly adjust the brakes; 4. Avoid frequent use of the brakes.
I've driven for several years and encountered brake disc noise issues multiple times. The most common scenario is rust forming on the discs after parking in the rain, which usually disappears after gently applying the brakes a few times. However, if the squeaking persists, it's likely due to excessively worn brake pads or debris trapped between them. When inspecting yourself, you should replace the pads if their thickness is less than 3mm. Sometimes, the disc surface may be scratched or uneven - you can feel raised imperfections by hand. Don't delay repairs as minor issues can accumulate and damage the entire braking system. In severe cases, it may affect stopping distance. Safety comes first, so I recommend having professionals inspect them during regular maintenance.
As someone who frequently tinkers with cars, I've noticed that brake noise can originate from various sources. The most common cause is brake disc corrosion or scoring—especially after humid weather, friction can produce squeaking sounds. Secondly, it could be due to incompatible brake pad materials or hard spots, leading to high-frequency squealing. Thirdly, unstable component installation, such as loose calipers rubbing against the disc edge, might be the culprit. Thermal deformation affecting contact surface uniformity is another potential cause. Long-term neglect not only results in annoying noise but also accelerates disc wear, increasing replacement costs. For simple self-checks, inspect the pad grooves for foreign objects, but deeper issues require professional diagnosis with specialized tools to prevent road hazards.