Why are My Brakes Squeaking?

Brakes are the most important safety feature on your car, and when you have questions like why are my brakes squeaking, it’s important to get the right answers. At BMW of Rockland, our talented team of technicians has given us some great information about your squeaking issue.
We look forward to our customers in and around Rockland, Hingham, and Marshfield, MA, learning valuable answers from this overview.
How Often Should I Get My Brakes Looked At?
Squeaking is one of many issues that your brakes can experience over the course of their lifetime. It is important to understand that regular maintenance is key to healthy brakes and a safe ride. At our service center, we’re staffed by a team of talented and certified technicians who know their way around a set of brakes. They’re using the latest in cutting-edge tools and diagnostic technologies to ensure an accurate reading of the condition of your brakes.
We often suggest that the best way to keep up to date with your brakes is by following the maintenance schedule in your owner’s manual. However, we understand that not every driver has direct access to one of them. That’s no problem, as a general rule of thumb suggests that, for example, a brake pad should be replaced at 50,000 miles. Depending on your driving style and conditions, this can be lowered to 25,000 miles or reach up to 70,000 miles.
What is Causing My Brakes to Squeak?
When your brakes begin to squeak, it can mean that a few different things have begun to occur. One reason can be due to temperature change wherein a light layer of rust can form on a rotor, causing it to squeak. When the brake pads and rotors heat up, however, the issue resolves itself and no additional maintenance is needed.
Another avenue of answers is dependent on wear indication. For example, most brake pads come with a wear indicator that produces a loud squeal when the friction material has been worn down, indicating that you need to replace them. Certain types of brake pad material, like semi-metallic or non-asbestos organic (NAO), tend to be noisier than others, while semi-metallic cause premature rotor wear and NAO pads are rather dusty.
What Does Brake Repair Look Like?
For brake squeaking, the repair is a lot more convenient than other brake issues. For the most part, you can do it yourself, or if you prefer, have our team of technicians handle it. Replacing brake pads with fresh new ones can cure the squeaking. If squeaking persists after the change, you can schedule an appointment to have your brakes looked over.
Sometimes the issue can be deeper than brake pad wear and could result from brake components being rusty or in need of a replacement part. Our team can have that done in a timely manner and get you back on the road safely.
Schedule Brake Service at BMW of Rockland!
Now that our customers in and around Rockland, Hingham, and Marshfield, Massachusetts, know the answer to why their breaks squeal, it’s time to act. The next time you have an issue with your brakes, be sure to schedule service with us at BMW of Rockland!