Fixing Squeaky Brakes

There is really nothing more embarrassing (or scary) to a vehicle owner than trying to stop when you have squeaky brakes. That is, nothing more embarrassing than trying to stop in a car that you just had the brakes changed and they squeak. Fixing squeaky brakes can be a fairly protracted task, since there are several things you are going to have to check and rule out.

If you have recently had your brakes fixed, changed or replaced and they squeak then you are in luck. I say luck, because you should know that often new brakes just squeak. The reason that they squeak is because many of the new brake pads that are currently on the market are no longer made from asbestos due to the associated risks of cancer. Quite often this squeaking is the result of the more metallic brake pads grinding, or vibrating when it comes into contact with the disc.

When you are faced with this situation, the only way that you can rule out whether your brakes are actually bad, is to remove them, and have them looked at by a professional. In such situation it is best to replace these failing brakes, as having squeaky old brakes can be a sign that they need replacing. However, if you have recently had them changed then there are some other things that you can do to help reduce the vibration and grinding that causes such an embarrassing noise.

One of the best things to do is to go to your local auto parts store, and ask for a few items. The first items that you should ask for are things along the lines of pastes or sprays for lubrication. This is not to lubricate the actual brakes, but the attachments like the piston. Another thing that you might want to look at is some brake cleaner. When you had the brakes replaced, it is possible that the shipping "oil" was not properly removed, and the brakes might simply need to be cleaned a little. You should be aware that these items are going to very quickly add up in price, so I would only suggest using a couple of them at a time. This way you can keep the cost down, and not waste any money if you find something that works right away.

Finally, there is one other possibility that could be causing the squeaky brakes. That possibility is you might need to give your car a lube job. If nothing else, having a lube job is going to help ensure that your car runs properly.