3 Brake Noises And What They're Telling You

If your car has made a noise enough times, eventually, you'll stop listening. While noises can occur for a number of reasons, many of them non-fatal (to yourself or the car), it's still important to get them checked out immediately. Below are three noises your brakes may be making, and what those noises usually indicate.  

High-Pitched Squeal

Nothing makes you more confident in your car's ability to stop than the high-pitched squeal that they sometimes emit. Fortunately, this is a common noise that occurs when the brake pads are beginning to wear down.

This high-pitched squeal is a friendly reminder to have your brake pads changed as soon as you can. While you aren't in any imminent danger, you shouldn't put off their replacement. Failure to replace your brake pads after they've begun to wear down can cause serious damage to your car's brake rotor. The brake rotor is the mechanism that stops that wheels from spinning, effectively stopping your car.

Clunking Noise

If, when you apply the brakes, your car begins to make a clunking noise, you need to get to a mechanic like one from Alignment Center immediately.

Clunking noises usually mean one thing: loose brake components. The mechanic will look for the likeliest culprit first, and that's loose nuts and bolts. This is usually an easy fix which means there is no reason for this noise to go unnoticed. Even if the issue is minor, you're better off safe than sorry.

Grinding to a Halt

Perhaps you let your brakes squeal for too long, and now that high-pitched squeal has turned into a solid grind.

When your brakes grind, there is metal-to-metal contact, which is exactly how it sounds. As mentioned above, a high-squeal occurs when the brake pads begin to wear, and this can cause damage to the brake rotors. The grinding noise is one step beyond wear and tear, as there's no longer any padding left to the brakes. This issue should be dealt with immediately, as the padding on your brake pads is what protects the brake rotors from damage. If the rotors become damaged, you could be facing a life-or-death situation.

Cars make all kinds of noises – some you've learned to ignore. If your car is exhibiting any of the noises above when you apply the brakes, you'll want to bring your car to a mechanic as soon as you can. The brakes are the most important part of your vehicle, and the noises they emit are reminders to you that it's time to replace or tighten. 


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