What Causes Brake Pads to Make Abnormal Noises?
4 Answers
Reasons for brake pads making abnormal noises: 1. Excessive wear of car brake pads: When the thickness of the car brake pads wears down to below 6mm, they should be replaced promptly. Otherwise, the car may produce squeaking sounds during braking, which can even affect the braking performance and increase safety hazards during use. 2. Foreign objects on the brake pads: If there are foreign objects mixed in the car brake pads, abnormal noises can occur due to friction. In this case, simply cleaning the brake pads will suffice. 3. Severe tire wear: If the car tires are severely worn, abnormal noises may also occur when turning or braking. In such cases, the tires should be replaced promptly. When the surface of the car tires wears down to the position of the triangle symbol, they should be replaced.
A few days ago, my car was also squeaking, and upon inspection, it turned out the brake pads were nearly worn out, producing a sharp noise. Brake pads are like shoe soles—they get thin with use and make friction sounds when pressed. Dust or rust buildup on the rotor is especially noticeable on rainy days, and sometimes a car wash quiets it down. If you install low-quality pads, they might squeak right after replacement. With twenty years of driving experience, I can guess the issue by the sound: continuous high-pitched noise means wear, while a chirping sound might indicate a small stone stuck in there. Safety is paramount—if you hear unusual noises, get to a shop immediately to check the brake pad thickness. If it's below 3mm, it's time to replace them. Don’t delay, or braking power will drop, increasing the risk of accidents. Make it a habit to do a quick check every 5,000 kilometers.
As a frequent visitor to the repair shop, I've found that there are numerous causes for brake noise. The most common is excessive wear on the brake pads—once the friction layer is worn down, the metal base contacts the rotor, producing a piercing screech. Another cause could be misaligned shims during installation, which create noise when the bolts are tightened. Scratches or rust on the rotor surface, as well as subpar materials, can also generate noise. Checking at home is simple: after parking, feel the rotor surface with your hand—if it's uneven, that's likely the issue. Alternatively, lightly apply the brakes and listen to the sound—low-frequency humming may indicate thermal distortion, while high-frequency squealing usually means the pads are worn through. It's advisable to address the issue promptly; repair shops can resolve it by sanding the rotor or replacing the pads. Don’t forget routine maintenance—cool the system after long drives to prevent thermal expansion and contraction from worsening the noise.
Brake noise makes my heart skip a beat, as it's directly related to parking safety. Main causes include brake pads worn to their limit, dirty disc surfaces, or material aging. It's particularly prone to squeaking in humid conditions, but doesn't necessarily indicate a major issue - the noise may disappear after drying out. Ignoring brake noise could lead to brake failure, which would be dangerous in emergency situations where stopping becomes impossible. I make it a habit to listen for sound changes during my weekly drives, and schedule maintenance appointments whenever I hear squeaking. Technicians can perform quick checks in just minutes: measuring pad thickness and inspecting disc flatness. There are multiple prevention methods, such as avoiding sudden braking to reduce pad wear and driving slowly in rain to prevent rust corrosion.
