Brake Squeak

Q: I hear a high-pitched squeak or squeal sound every time I apply my brakes. Why are the brakes on my car producing that annoying sound and what do I need to do to fix it?

A: The squeal that you hear is most likely coming from the wear indicators on your brake pads. A wear indicator is a thin metal strip attached to the brake pad. It is made to squeal against the rotor when the pad wears down as a reminder that it is time to replace your brake pads. To stop the squealing you need to install new brake pads. If you don’t replace the brake pads you will soon hear a grinding noise. This metal on metal grinding will cause damage to your rotors, create a braking hazard, and in the end result in more money to replace.