At Andy Mohr Collision Center, we can’t emphasize enough the importance of routine brake inspections and maintenance. Reliable brakes are essential to your safety behind the wheel, as well as that of other drivers and pedestrians in Plainfield and Indianapolis.
If you’ve noticed odd squeaks coming from your brakes, there are a variety of issues that could be causing the problem. We’re here to lay them all out for you, so you can make the necessary repairs and return to the roads of Fishers and Bloomington!
Leaving Your Car Outside Overnight
When you leave your car sitting overnight, moisture can gather on brake rotors and create a thin layer of rust on rotor surfaces. Then, that rust becomes embedded in your brake pads as they scrape it off the rotors, which leads to squeaking when the pads come into full contact with the rotors.
You can avoid this problem by keeping your car in a garage or other controlled environment. This source of squeaking isn’t an immediate cause for brake maintenance, but if you can examine it as a possibility, you’ll have a better idea whether your problem is serious or not.
Worn Brake Pads
Brake pads are responsible for applying friction to the rotors to bring the wheels to a stop. They’re made of steel backing with some sort of friction material attached, like rubber. Over time, the friction material wears down and the pads need to be replaced. You can check their wear yourself: they’re visible through the wheels and should be no less than a quarter-inch thick.
Some brake pads have a built-in wear indicator clip, which is designed to contact the rotor and emit a squealing noise when your brake pads get too thin. Essentially, it’s a warning signal that you should change the brake pads soon before they wear out completely during your drives through Bloomington or Plainfield.
Glazed Pads or Rotors
Sometimes, when you use the brakes, the brake calipers will stick and keep the brake partially applied. If this happens, the brake pad will remain in contact with the rotor continuously, generating friction as well as heat. This can cause both the pads and rotors to “glaze over”—in other words, solidify and crystallize.
With two hardened surfaces pressing up against each other, there’s less friction. Your ability to brake will be compromised, and your brakes may begin to squeak. The rotors can be resurfaced with a machine by skilled technician to remove imperfections and apply a new finish. The brake pads, however, will need to be replaced.
Schedule Brake Repair at Andy Mohr Collision Center
If you think your brake squeaking may be cause for concern, you can have your brakes checked out by our team at Andy Mohr Collision Center. If you need new pads, rotors, calipers, or any other brake part, we’re happy to supply and install everything you need.
Schedule your brake inspection today, and make sure your car is in pristine condition for your drives through Fishers or Indianapolis!
