Tip #88: A brake squeal is a warning, and a grind means stop driving soon
A high-pitched squeal when braking is often a built-in wear indicator telling you the pads are getting thin. A grinding sound usually means the pads are gone and metal is touching metal, and the car should be checked before it is driven much further.
Tip #88 in one line
A high-pitched squeal when braking is often a built-in wear indicator telling you the pads are getting thin. A grinding sound usually means the pads are gone and metal is touching metal, and the car should be checked before it is driven much further.
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Call nowWhat each sound usually means
Many brake pads have a small metal tab that touches the rotor when the pad wears thin. It makes a high, steady squeal when you brake, and it is designed to be annoying. That is the time to book a brake inspection, not the time to turn up the radio.
Grinding or a harsh scraping sound is more serious. It often means the friction material is worn through and the pad's steel backing is on the rotor. Stopping distances get longer, and the rotor is being damaged with every stop. Some cars also show a brake pad warning light on the dashboard.
Not every noise is a worn pad. A light squeal on the first few stops on a damp morning can be surface rust on the rotors, which clears quickly. If a noise stays, gets worse or comes with a change in how the pedal feels, have it looked at.
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Call nowWhen not to drive it
Stop driving and call for a tow if the pedal sinks toward the floor, feels soft or spongy, the car pulls hard to one side when braking, there is a burning smell from a wheel, you see fluid near a wheel, or the red brake warning light stays on. Brakes are not a system to nurse home.
A local tow takes the car to the shop you choose. The price is quoted on the phone before the truck rolls: a flat hook fee plus a per-mile rate. We do not do repairs, so the brake work is done by your mechanic. Call (908) 444-0129 any hour.
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Call nowMake the inspection routine
Ask the shop to look at the pads and rotors whenever the tires are rotated. It costs little time, and it catches wear before the noise starts. For more on when to drive and when to tow, see the local towing guide and the towing questions page.
Brake fluid matters as well. It absorbs moisture over time, which lowers its boiling point and can make the pedal feel soft after repeated hard stops, such as coming down a long hill. Your owner's manual gives a fluid change interval; it is often overlooked. Ask the shop to test the fluid during the brake inspection.
If a brake warning appears together with an ABS or traction control light, mention both to the shop. Modern brake systems share sensors, and the combination helps narrow the cause.
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Call nowMore on maintenance
Keep reading, or go back to every post on the blog.
- Tip #8: Rinse the salt off the underside, or it will reach your brakes
- Tip #9: Use winter washer fluid and replace streaking wipers before the first storm
- Tip #10: Check coolant only when the engine is cold, and never open a hot radiator
- Tip #89: Check the cooling system before summer traffic, not on the shoulder
- Tip #91: Cloudy headlight lenses cut your light, so restore or replace them
- What to do when your car breaks down in New Jersey
- Flatbed vs wheel-lift towing: which does your car need?
- What happens to your car after a police-ordered tow in New Jersey
- All posts
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