What Causes the Abnormal Noise When Braking at Low Speed in a Sedan?

[OMartin]

The causes of abnormal noise when braking at low speed in a sedan are as follows: 1. Generally, faults in the caliper, brake disc, or brake pads can produce this abnormal noise. If the noise persists, the first thing to check is whether there is any dragging brake. Poor caliper reset can cause prolonged friction between the disc and the pad, which may produce abnormal noise under certain conditions. 2. If the noise occurs immediately after installing new pads, it may be due to inconsistent sizes between the new pads and the friction blocks, or it could be normal noise during the break-in period of new brake pads. New brake pads and discs require a break-in process. When braking, if it happens to grind against a hard spot on the brake pad (due to the material of the brake pad), this type of noise will occur. 3. When there are sand or gravel particles stuck between the brake pads and the brake disc, this type of noise can also occur. 4. Severe wear of the brake pads can also cause abnormal noise, which is a signal to the owner to replace the brake pads.

[FernandoFitz]

I've been repairing cars for over a decade, and low-speed brake squealing is extremely common. Most likely, there are metal hard spots or small sand particles in your brake pads, causing that chalkboard-like screech when you brake. Does this happen with brand new brake pads too? Then it's probably just the break-in period - the noise should disappear after a few hundred kilometers. For older vehicles, check if the dust shield is deformed and rubbing against the rotor, or if the retaining clips have come loose and are "dancing." By the way, don't panic about the initial squeaking when starting in rainy weather - that's just surface rust on the rotors, which clears after a couple of brake applications. You can troubleshoot these situations yourself; only when the sound becomes particularly sharp and piercing should you consider visiting the shop.

[IvanFitz]

There are three common scenarios for low-speed brake noises. If you hear a 'click' sound right after starting the car, it might be the brake caliper return spring not being tightly secured. A prolonged metallic 'squeak—' noise indicates either hard spots on the brake pads or the wear indicator (that metal loop) signaling the limit. A dull 'thud' sound should raise alarm—it could mean loose brake caliper mounting bolts. Here's my simple DIY approach: When hearing noises, lightly pump the brakes a few times. If the sound disappears, it might be aged suspension bushings or trapped debris. If the noise persists for a week accompanied by a spongy brake pedal, immediately check brake fluid and pad/disc thickness—safety always comes first.

[SanGraham]

Female car owners often express their dread of the 'squeaky' noise attracting stares at traffic lights! In fact, 80% of the time it's a common issue: the brake pads grinding against harder material sections, small branches or even chewing gum stuck between the disc and pad (yes, it really happens), or friction from rust layers after rain. My car used to make noise every time it went over a speed bump, and it turned out to be the brake hose touching the suspension arm. The solution was quite laid-back: drive normally for 500 kilometers, and if it doesn't improve, then go for a check. By the way, thin brake pads are more prone to squeaking than thick ones, and when they wear down to the critical point, that metallic sound is basically telling you to replace them ASAP.