Brake noise: what is it you’re hearing? Yes, it’s aggravating and you’re constantly thinking about ways to get rid of it. Even so, don’t rush to the WD40 on the workbench. There’s nothing worse than making a mistake of this magnitude. Find out why the brakes are squeaking and what you can do about it before making an erroneous decision.
Four Typical Reasons A Brake Squeaks
- Moisture – When your brakes squeak in the early morning, it may be because of overnight rain, moisture, or dew.
- Brake Pad Wear – Another reason for brake pad wear is thinning brake pads. When pads are worn, some cars have an indicator that makes them squeak.
- Lubrication – Rear drum brakes can squeak because the metal parts need lubrication.
- Rusty Rotors – Winter weather can cause rotors to rust a bit. When this happens you might hear a squeaking noise as you brake.
Two Types of Brakes
Some modern cars still use drum brakes on the rear wheels, despite having disk brakes on the front. The oil for drum brakes can be purchased and used for this purpose. It doesn’t matter what type of brake rotors you have, there are occasions when they need to be greased. Brake squeaking can be caused by corrosion, however there are many other causes, such as:
Brakes Squeak in The Morning
After a night of sitting, many brakes begin to screech. Dew or moisture condensing in the air is the most common source of this problem. Rust and grime can be the source of this problem. As a result, the sound is generated when the pads scrape the rust and become encrusted with rust particles. Put your automobile in a garage or a climate-controlled storage facility to avoid this noise.
Thinning Pads
Another cause of squealing brakes is worn brake pads. When the brake pads wear out and become thin, the noise begins. Pads should be replaced as soon as possible. Towards the end of the brake pad, there are a few metal fragments that begin to hit the rotor. As a caution, this is an indicator that the brake pads need to be replaced.
Metal-to-metal friction, which is terrible for braking and can damage the rotor, occurs before this. Because of this, a more expensive rotor replacement is necessary.
Lubrication
The metal-to-metal contact points may need to be lubricated in the case of rusty rotors or drum brakes. When the wheels revolve, this area can lose lubrication and make a squeaking noise, but you should apply a particular brake lubricant. Regular WD40 won’t do the trick.
Avoid Using WD40 to Lubricate Brakes
WD40 is an all-purpose lubricant that can be used around the house. Nevertheless, the petroleum distillates in it may damage the rubber brakes on cars because of their corrosive nature. However, a light squirt of WD40 is unlikely to cause any severe harm.
WD40 is a lubricant, although it isn’t the best one available. Light petroleum oil and solvent are used to make it. An oily residue may be left after the solvent has evaporated. As a result, WD40 will only temporarily disguise the problem of noisy brakes.
Poorly performing brake pads can lead a driver to lose control of their vehicle if their brakes are worn out. WD40, on the other hand, is usually gone after the first drive.
There is a chance of WD40 getting behind the pad and on the boot if you use the entire container on your braking system. WD40 is not particularly effective as a brake lubricant. In terrible shape, it could get into the caliper seals and hydraulic system, causing them to leak. This could cause difficulties with the seals.
An alternative to WD40 is to use a brake system lubricant specifically designed for this type of problem. For rear drum brakes, it’s best to grease them properly.
Never apply lubrication to the area where the pads make touch with each other. As a result, the brake pads may no longer be able to do their job, which is dangerous because it causes the brakes to slip. Instead, lubricate the backing plate with brake grease. Locate the ridges where the shoe rests on the ground. To eliminate rust, lightly sand the parts, and then lubricate them.
A lubricant should also be used to prevent freezing of the movable star wheel (the area that divides the pad).
Because parking brakes often use rear drum brakes, it’s important to keep the cable and other moving parts lubricated to prevent rust. Brake lubricant should also be used on any metal-to-metal contact portions of the brake system to avoid rust. You don’t want grease dripping into plastic components, so don’t over-lubricate.
Rusty Rotors
If your brake rotors are rusty, you may hear a squeaking noise. The rotors can be cleaned and lubricated to fix this problem as well. Spraying the rotor with brake cleaner can eliminate rust or at least reduce the noise.
Ensure that the brake rotor is clean and dry before applying brake cleaner. Apply brake cleaner and use a steel wool or a wire brush to work it into the surface. If there is still rust on the rotor after the first cleaning, use some additional cleaner. When you’re done, wipe the rotor clean.
In The End
It doesn’t matter what the cause of your squeaky brakes is; you need to fix it. Brake noise is a warning sign of a potential issue. It’s always better to take care of minor concerns before they turn into significant ones and necessitate more expensive repairs.
