Are Your Car's Brakes Squeaking? Know How To Fix It
ShareDid you notice that your brakes have started making a squeaking sound? It's normal for this to make you a bit concerned and want to fix it. Here are a few ways that you can deal with squeaky brakes.
Drive Your Car
If you leave your car outside and it recently rained or snowed, it is possible that you have rust that has built up on the brake pads overnight. When you first start driving your car it is going to have louder brakes than normal with squeaking or grinding, but that sound will soon go away after a short while. This is normal, and can best be avoided by parking your car in a garage overnight. Even the morning dew can cause that problem to happen, so just drive a bit to fix it.
Replace The Pads
Every brake pad has a wear indicator, which is a small piece of metal that is designed to be exposed when the brake pad is worn down. This will then cause a squeaking sound when you apply the brakes, which is intentional to let you know that the brake pads need replacement. You'll know that it is time to take your vehicle into an auto shop and have a brake inspection so that they can let you know the current condition of the brake pads.
Clean The Brakes
If the brake pads are not worn down, then you can try to make the squeaking go away by using brake cleaner. This is a spray that you can purchase from your local auto parts store, and it works by simply applying it directly to your brake pads. You then drive your vehicle and after a few minutes the cleaner will help get rid of any dirt and debris that are stuck to the brake pads.
Check For Loose Parts
It's possible that there are parts that have become loose in your brake assembly. This will happen naturally over time, and there is not much you can do to prevent it from happening. However, these loose parts can cause the brake assembly to make a squeaking sound as you are driving. If you are not familiar with your brake assembly, this may not be something you feel comfortable with doing on your own, but if you want to get under the vehicle and start checking the parts this can help identify a potential problem with loud brakes. Otherwise, have your brakes inspected by a professional.