Brakes Sounding Like A Halloween Soundtrack? What Could The Problem Be?
Posted on: 26 October 2015
If your brakes are making squealing, hissing, or grinding noises that have you thinking of black cats and cackling witches, you're likely wondering what the problem may be -- and how much it will cost to fix. However, these brake issues don't need to be scary. Read on to learn more about the sounds your brakes may make when in need of repair, as well as what you'll need to do (or have done) to fix them.
Squealing brakes
While you may assume that the squealing noise you hear whenever you press the brake pedal indicates that your brake pads have worn away and are allowing metal-on-metal contact, this noise is actually caused by the ultra-high frequency vibration of the brake pads. In some cases, a high-pitched squealing may indicate that the pads are worn and must be changed, but if your brake pads appear relatively new, you'll want to look into one of the other potential causes.
- Sticking or "glazed" calipers
If your brake calipers shift or become sticky enough to provide constant pressure on the rotors or brake pads, you may notice a loss of engine power (particularly when accelerating from a full stop). This sluggishness is because your brakes remain engaged even when your foot is nowhere near the brake pedal. By repositioning or cleaning your calipers, you should be able to eliminate squealing sounds without replacing your brake pads.
- Inadequate insulation shims
If your brake pads are original to your vehicle, it's likely that the squealing you hear is due to worn or missing insulation shims, designed to protect the caliper from the steel side of the brake pad. By applying a cushioning gel to the back of your original brake pad (or simply replacing the pad itself), a mechanic should be able to quickly eliminate this noise.
Hissing brakes
Brakes that make an ominous hissing sound could trigger concern that you're leaking fluid or could quickly suffer brake failure -- however, this noise is generally caused by a leaking vacuum line and shouldn't significantly impact the function of your brakes.
This issue can usually be repaired easily by patching or replacing the leaking portion of rubber vacuum tubing. If you're fairly handy, you may be able to pinpoint and patch the leak yourself; but, if you don't trust yourself to do an adequate job, a mechanic should be able to perform this task for you quickly and inexpensively. If you're uncomfortable doing this kind of maintenance on your vehicle, contact a local specialist, such as Lakeside Radiator & Auto Repair.
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