Vehicle maintenance involves carrying out actions to solve the different problems that arise in cars, some of them that can occur regardless of whether it is a vehicle of little age or a classic or restored vehicle.
One of the most common problems is brakes making an unpleasant noise when activated. Therefore, we are going to show you what you should do if you want to know how to prevent your car’s brakes from screeching, which is easier than you might think.
This situation occurs with some frequency, since it is common for this to happen at some point in the car’s useful life. It is not usually common in newly purchased cars, but even so at some point it can happen and you should know how to act.
The reasons that can lead to squealing brakes can be different, but in the vast majority of cases it has to do with a poor condition of the pads. In any case, keep in mind that this is a warning that something is wrong.
Announcers
In the irons of the brake calipers there are pieces that are irons called “warner’s”, which are arranged to warn the driver that the pads have reached the end of their useful life.
Therefore, the first of the tips that you should keep in mind to know how to prevent your car’s brakes from squealing is that in the event that this is your case, what you should do is check that the pads, in the case that your brakes are disc brakes, they have the appropriate thickness. Otherwise, you will have to replace it.
Crystallization
This screeching noise can occur in both disc brake pads and drum brake shoes. As time goes by, it is normal for these types of elements to lose their properties; and one of the signs of this is that when braking they come to rub against the disc or drum, depending on each particular case, so that that annoying squeak occurs.
In the event that there is superficial damage, it will be enough, in some cases, to carry out a prolonged braking. However, you must bear in mind that for this you must find a place where you can do it safely, a place where there is no vehicle traffic and it is safe.
Another option that you have at your disposal is to sand the contact surface a little, although in principle it is not advisable to bet on it, since this can cause some elements that are quite delicate to be damaged.
In the case of drum brakes, it is common for the drum itself to crystallize, so in that case you will have to proceed to disassemble and sand them, in addition to checking the shoes.
humidity and salt
In beach and mountain areas it is common for the brakes to squeal due to humidity and salt problems. Through the rim you will be able to see the rust on the brake systems of vehicles, especially if they are not stored in a garage and are outdoors. This makes them very exposed to these agents and end up emitting a squeak when braking.
In this case, you can also resort to the aforementioned trick of carrying out prolonged braking, in addition to sanding, although you must bear in mind that if you can see the rust with the naked eye, it is possible that the rest of the system is also damaged.
The best thing for these cases is to bet on prevention. This implies keeping the vehicles parked under cover, in a dry place and making sure that the wheels are not in contact with water currents or puddles. In addition, you must use the car and brake regularly, in addition to removing the salt that may be present on the wheels and bottom with pressurized fresh water.
overexertion on the brakes
Another tip that you should know to know how to prevent your car’s brakes from screeching is to prevent these systems from being subjected to overexertion. This can end up deriving, in addition, in deformations present in pads, discs, shoes…
In this case, you will have no choice but to proceed with the repair and replace the damaged parts. Preventively you should try to brake without making the braking system have to undergo excessive effort.
The sound in ceramic brakes
In the case of ceramic brakes, usually present in sports cars, they have great advantages; such as the great efficiency they offer when they are working at high temperatures, stopping the wheel’s even if the vehicle turns at a very high speed.
However, they require a longer amount of time to reach an optimal working temperature. When they are cold they emit a sharp sound. In this case, the solution is to heat the brakes with some hard braking. From that moment they would no longer have to sound anymore.
