What that brake squeal means
Squeal, grind, or click: what each sound usually is, and how soon you should come in.
Read the noteStraight answers from the shop floor.
Short notes from our techs on the questions we hear at the counter every week. Read one before you book and you'll know what to ask.
All notes
- Warning lights
Solid or flashing: what your check-engine light is telling you
One of them means "book soon". The other means "pull over".
- Oil
Do you really need an oil change every 3,000 miles?
Probably not. Here's how to find your real interval.
- Tires
Reading your tire wear like a tech
Edges, center, or patchy: what each pattern says about your car.
- A/C
Why your A/C keeps needing a recharge
A/C systems are sealed. If it's low, it's leaking.
Example site: only the brake note is written out below. The other links go to it.
What that brake squeal means
Brakes make noise for a handful of reasons, and most of them aren't an emergency. A couple of them are. Here's how we sort them out at the counter, before the car even goes on the lift.
High-pitched squeal when you brake
Most brake pads have a small metal tab called a wear indicator. When the pad gets thin, the tab touches the rotor and squeals. It's designed to be annoying so you'll get it checked. You usually have a few weeks, not a few months.
Grinding or growling
This usually means the pad material is gone and metal is rubbing metal. It damages the rotors quickly, which turns a pad job into a pads-and-rotors job. Book soon, and drive gently until then.
Squeal in the morning that goes away
Overnight moisture leaves a light layer of rust on the rotors. The first few stops scrape it off. If it's gone after a minute of driving, it's normal.
| Sound | Likely cause | How soon |
|---|---|---|
| Squeal when braking | Pad wear indicator | Within a few weeks |
| Grinding | Pads worn through | This week |
| Squeal first thing, then gone | Surface rust | Normal |
| Pulling to one side | Sticking caliper | Soon, and get it checked |
| Soft or sinking pedal | Fluid leak or air in lines | Don't drive it. Call us. |
Brake inspections are free. We measure your pads and rotors and text you the numbers with a photo, so you can decide what to do and when.
Not sure which sound you have? Call us, or describe it to the chat assistant in the corner. It can book you a free inspection.