Why Do My Brakes Squeak?

If you’re driving through Lakeland and wondering, “Why do my brakes squeak?” it could be something a simple shot of oil can fix. Or it can be a sign that vital parts of your vehicle need to be replaced. You don’t want to take your chances with squeaking brakes. The service team at Kelley Buick GMC, Inc. can help you find out what causes brakes to squeak when you’re driving on Winterhaven streets. Here’s what you need to know about brakes squeaking. 

What Causes Brakes to Squeak? 

Some causes of brakes squeaking can be innocuous and easily fixed at home. If your brakes are squeaking first thing in the morning when it’s especially humid or rainy, the noise could simply be surface rust that’ll wear off after a bit of driving. Storing your vehicle in a garage can prevent this from happening. Or, if you have metallic or ceramic brake pads and a heavy vehicle like a full-size truck or SUV, you might have to deal with some extra noise because these are inherently noisy materials. 

That said, there are more serious issues at hand if your brakes are squeaking. See some of the most common reasons below: 

• Road debris may be stuck in your brake system. If the brake squeaking happens without having your foot on the brake pedal, or if you have new brakes that are squeaking, it’s likely a foreign object like a rock or stick has gotten stuck between the rotor and pad. Schedule a service appointment immediately to have the object removed before it damages the rotor.
• Your brakes might not have been properly installed. We see this a lot with aftermarket brakes that aren’t quite the right fit for the vehicle, which is why OEM brakes made by the same manufacturer of your vehicle are so important to the health of your car. Our service team can help with proper installation, or you can purchase OEM brakes for your Buick or GMC in our parts department and install them yourself.
• They need to be replaced. Many brake pads have a built-in metal tab that will squeak when the pads reach a certain level of wear. This noise might be more of a scraping sound along with a squeak. If you know your brakes are nearing the end of their lifespan, this could be the reason for the squeaking. 

Kelley Buick GMC, Inc. Meets All Your Auto Service Needs! 

Now that you know what causes brakes to squeak when you’re driving in Aurburndale, you can do what’s necessary to stop the annoying noise and keep your ride safe! Want to learn more about maintaining your vehicle? Pay a visit to the Kelley Buick GMC, Inc. service tips for helpful articles on common auto service issues.