If your brakes have started squeaking, there may be a number of causes. The noise may result from worn-down brake pads, dirt or dust in the mechanism, a buildup of rust, snow or moisture, or something else. Here are a few effective ways to deal with squeaking brakes, and if the problem persists, you can always visit your local Mazda dealership to have it resolved.
Temporary vs Persistent Squeaking
Sometimes a little moisture or snow on the brake pads will cause your brakes to squeak temporarily. When the heat of friction evaporates this moisture, the squeaking should also disappear. But if the noise persists, you have a problem that requires a little more attention.
Check Your Brake Pads
Brake pads bear the lion’s share of the work whenever you step on the brake pedal. The calipers clamp the pads onto the rotors, creating friction that stops your car. The upper friction layer of a brake pad may be made from semimetallic, ceramic, or even organic materials bonded together by resin under high temperatures.
This friction layer gradually wears down over time. After 30,000 to 80,000 miles of driving, a brake pad will wear so thin that it needs replacing. At this point, a tiny metal tab is uncovered by the diminishing friction layer. This tab is designed to create a high-pitched squeaking sound, drawing your attention so you can buy a new pad.
Grease the Brake Touch Points
If your brake pads aren’t yet worn down, something else is causing the noise. Just as squeaky door hinges can be silenced with a little oil, you might also be able to resolve the squeaking with some brake lubricant.
You’ll need to remove the brake pads and apply brake lubricant to the metallic rear of the pad and any touch points with the caliper. This usually works for brand-new brake pads, which tend to be squeaky for a while. Make sure you don’t get lubricant anywhere near the friction layer or rotor, as this would reduce your brake’s traction.
Apply Brake Shims
Sometimes squeaking and other noises are created by little imperfections in the positioning of the brake pads and rotors. This might problem develop over time as the brakes of your car age.
You can often repair this issue by installing brake shims. Shims are thin layers of metal or rubber that fit between the rotors and pads to correct the positioning and eradicate the noise.
Replace the Rotor Discs
Over time, rotors begin to wear down, albeit much more slowly than brake pads. If a rotor starts to warp out of shape with age and touches the caliper, it can create a squealing sound. The way to resolve this is usually with a replacement rotor.
Ask Your Mazda Dealer To Fix It
The quickest way to diagnose any brake or car-related issue is usually to ask a trusted technician at your local dealership to look into it. With years of experience, your technician will quickly identify and quieten your brakes, saving you the time and hassle of trying to work it out by yourself.
Visit Flood Mazda today to have your brakes repaired. We’re a local full-service dealership with a broad range of vehicles and top-notch customer service.
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