What are the causes of brake pad noise?
3 Answers
The causes of brake pad noise are: 1. Insufficient contact surface, leading to increased pressure per unit area of the brake pad; 2. Emergency braking causing changes in the performance of the friction material; 3. Rust on the brake caliper; 4. Slow return of the brake master cylinder. The solutions for brake pad noise are: 1. Replace the brake pads; 2. Secure the brake caliper and spring; 3. Replace the brake disc. The steps for replacing brake pads are: 1. Remove the wheel of the brake; 2. Use a wrench to remove the brake caliper bolts and take out the brake pads; 3. Clean the debris from the brake caliper with a cloth; 4. Install the new brake pads onto the brake caliper; 5. Tighten the guide bolts and check the braking effect.
I've also encountered squeaky brake pads while driving before. It's usually caused by small stones getting stuck between the brake disc and pad, creating that metallic scraping sound when braking. Another common situation is when the brake pads are worn down to the warning indicator, and that metal piece makes a particularly sharp noise when contacting the disc. Newly replaced brake pads might also squeak for a few days as the surfaces break in. Rust on brake discs after rain can cause a brief squeal too. If the noise persists continuously, you should consider possible issues like warped brake discs or improper installation. The most dangerous scenario is completely worn-through brake pads - not only is it hazardous but can also damage the brake discs. Any persistent abnormal noise should be checked immediately.
My neighbor just ran into this issue—her car makes a squeaking noise whenever she brakes. I went to take a look and found that the most common causes are usually one of three things: foreign objects stuck in the brake system, like small stones kicked up from the road; the metal wear indicator scraping when the brake pads are worn to their limit; or new brake pads that haven't yet been properly broken in and smoothed out. Actually, after rain, surface rust on the brake discs can also cause brief abnormal noises. If the noise persists after driving a few hundred kilometers, it's likely due to warped brake discs. This needs to be fixed immediately—otherwise, at best, it'll damage the discs, and at worst, it could affect braking distance.