Car brakes squealing? Find out how to stop the noise

hen your car's brakes squeal, the journey can be unbearable. Here are some of the causes and solutions. To solve it, visit your mechanic.

Chiiiiiii... chiiiiiiiii... chiii... On many journeys along the roads of Portugal and around the world, we end up hearing these sounds. Sometimes it's our car that makes it, sometimes it's the cars around us.

When your car's brakes squeal, you want the noise to go away quickly, and you even avoid using them. You start using the gearbox to slow the car down and even the handbrake becomes an option.

This problem can go away, but sometimes it can be necessary to change the brake pads or even the brake discs.

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The reason why car brakes squeal.

Car brakes usually squeal when braking gently, which is why we often hear them when we're queuing in traffic.

Often the squealing is associated with the quality of the brake pads or discs, but even reputable brands can have these noises.

Sometimes these sounds appear after changing the pads, but they can also appear after some use.

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The reason? There could be several reasons.

The disc may not be flat, due to incorrect assembly, or there may even be grooves in it, causing it to squeak;

One of the sliding parts of the calipers or piston may be obstructed;

In the case of asymmetrical brake pads, they may be incorrectly fitted;

The thickness of the brake disc may be too thin (in this case, check the specifications of your brake discs as there are various sizes);

Some anti-noise accessories (if fitted) may be out of place, such as the plates.

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The solution? There's more than one.

Cleaning is always a good solution. Clean and lubricate any surfaces of the caliper that you notice are not working properly;

Remove the disk and refit it correctly or sand it if it has grooves to make it flat. You can also sand the pads;

Correct the mounting of the pads, or the anti-noise plates and other accessories;

Replace the brake pads with noise-reducing characteristics;

As a last resort, replace the brake disk.

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When your car's brakes squeal, don't try to solve the problem yourself, visit your mechanic, as you'll be dealing with a very sensitive area that plays a very important role in your safety.

However, before you stop at the garage, there are those who argue that more rigorous braking can make the noise disappear, as it will wear down the pads a little, which is where the noise can originate.

So avoid the chiiiiiii... chiiiiiiiii... chiii... and delight your ears with beautiful sounds chosen by you or suggested by a radio station.

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Source: EKONOMISTA

Translated with DeepL.com