What Causes Brake Noise in Snowy Weather?
2 Answers
The reason for brake noise in snowy weather is: the sound of the ABS anti-lock braking system engaging, which is a normal phenomenon. Due to the slippery road conditions in rain or snow, when ABS is active, the pedal may pulsate and transmit some vibrations and noise to the pedal. The function of ABS is to automatically control the braking force during car braking, preventing the wheels from locking up. During braking, ABS quickly determines the wheel lock-up state based on speed signals from each wheel speed sensor, closes the normally open input solenoid valve on the wheel that is beginning to lock, maintaining the braking force. If the wheel continues to lock, the normally closed output solenoid valve is opened, causing the braking pressure on that wheel to rapidly decrease due to the direct connection to the brake fluid reservoir, preventing the wheel from completely locking up due to excessive braking force.
As a veteran driver who frequently takes long trips, I'm all too familiar with brake noises in snowy conditions. There are mainly three scenarios: The most common is when ice chips or snow powder get stuck between the brake disc and pads, causing a creaking sound when braking initially—this usually goes away once friction heat melts the ice. Next is when low temperatures harden the brake pad material; in places like Northeast China where it drops to -20°C, the metal pads become brittle and produce a sharp screech against the disc, but this typically eases after driving 2-3 kilometers. The most alarming situation is when the brake pads are nearly worn out, exposing the metal wear indicators—this creates a continuous metal scraping sound! Last year, my colleague's car had this issue, and replacing the pads promptly saved the brake discs from damage. In icy conditions, avoid using the parking brake to prevent frozen pads; using a brick to chock the tires is more reliable.
