Your brakes are one of the most important safety features on your car.
They allow you to stop quickly and safely in an emergency.
That’s why it’s so important to make sure they are working properly.
One common issue with brakes is noise when braking at low speeds.
This can be caused by a number of things, such as worn brake pads or dirty brake discs.
If your brakes are making noise, there is a good chance they need to be serviced.
We’ll go over the reasons why your brakes might be making noise when braking (especially at low speeds) and help you find fixes for these problems.
Causes of Braking Noise at Low Speeds
There are several reasons why you hear noise when you brake at slow speeds.
For the most part, noises are caused by a couple main general things:
- When parts that aren’t supposed to touch or rub come into contact with each other.
- When there are imperfections in the braking surfaces.
Depending on the exact cause, you may hear squealing, grinding noise, scraping noise, hissing, or humming coming from the brakes.
Check out the most common reasons below.
Worn-Out Brake Pads
One reason is that your brake pads might be worn down.
This means they can’t stop the car as well as they used to, so you’ll hear noise when you use them.
If the brakes pads are beyond their wear indicator, it’s time to replace them.
Worn-Out Rotors
Brake noises may also be caused by worn rotors because they are no longer able to provide a smooth surface for the brake pads to grip.
This can cause the pads to grind against the rotor, creating a noise that can be heard both inside and outside of the vehicle.
Warped rotors can also cause noise when braking, as they will not be able to spin smoothly against the brake pads.
Dirty Brakes
If noise is also accompanied by a vibration, it might be because your brake discs are dirty.
Dirt, grime, tiny rocks, and debris can get between the brake pad and disc and cause a grinding sound.
Corrosion and rust can have the same effect.
This can happen if you don’t drive frequently or if you drive in a dusty environment.
When the brake discs get dirty, they can’t grip the brake pads as well, which causes noise and vibration.
Worn Brake Calipers
Another common cause of noise when braking is worn calipers.
This happens when the caliper doesn’t grip the brake pads tightly enough, which leads to noise and vibration.
Air in the Brake Lines
Finally, noise when braking at low speeds may also be caused by air in the brake lines.
This often happens when the system has been serviced recently.
Air in the lines makes a hissing noise when you brake.
A mechanic may or may not need to bleed the brakes for the noise to go away.
How to Fix Noisy Brakes
If your brakes are making noise, it’s important to have them serviced as soon as possible.
This will help to solve the problem and prevent it from getting worse. There are a few things you can do to help fix noisy brakes:
- Have your brake pads replaced – If they are worn down, this will solve the noise issue.
- Try cleaning your brake discs – this can be done using a brake cleaner or by using a cloth to remove any dirt or grime.
- If your rotors are warped, you might need to have them replaced.
Also, you can make sure that your calipers are working properly and are gripping the brake pads tightly. If they are not, this can also cause noise when braking.
Is brake noise normal or cause for concern?
There is always going to be some noise when braking, but we are so used to the normal noises that we usually don’t even notice them.
If you notice unusual noise when breaking, it can be a sign that something is wrong with your brakes.
It’s important to have your brakes serviced as soon as possible to find and fix the problem.
Remember, brakes are vital to your car’s overall safety. Y
ou do not want to drive around when a brake system that isn’t working at its best.
Can you continue to drive if your brakes are noisy?
You absolutely should not continue driving when your brakes are making unusual noises.
Unusual noise when braking can be a sign that something is wrong with your brakes.
If your brakes fail while driving, the results could be catastrophic.
It’s very important to get your brakes inspected if they are making noise.
Keeping up with your car’s routine service is a great way to keep your brakes in top shape.