Brake noise is a noise that many of us are familiar with. It usually begins once our brakes begin to wear down as a signal, warning us that the brakes will most likely need to be replaced in the near future. How this works is that on the brake pads is a special metal clip that only makes contact with your rotors once the brakes have been worn down to a specific level. It's usually when you have about one fourth of an inch or so left on your brake pads. This clip creates a sound that is pretty easily identifiable letting you know that you'll need to either take your car into your mechanic, or else replace the brake pads yourself.
So why does this noise sound horrible, like metal grinding on metal? That is because it actually is metal grinding on metal. The metal clip on the brake pad begins to make contact with the metal of the rotor and the noise erupts from the wheel as the sound of grinding. This can be very disconcerting for people, especially if it's this is the first time that you've heard that sound. Many people make the mistake of thinking that their brakes have already completely worn down and that the noise they hear is the sound of the metal caliper grinding against the metal rotor.
While this is a possibility, the more likely explanation is that the early warning brake system clip is finally starting to engage the rotor when you step on the brakes and is telling you that you'll need to change your brakes in the near future. If you are concerned about it, one method to discern what the noise is is by paying attention to it when you're not hitting your brakes. If there's still a noise of metal on metal even when you're not braking, that's because the metal clip wears down slower than the brake pads, and is still slightly engaging the rotor even when you're not hitting the brakes. So if that is the case with what you're experiencing, then most likely the noise you are hearing from your wheels is from the early warning clip that is letting you know you need to change your brake pads.
Many people ask the question, how much time do I have from the time the noise begins until I have to change the brakes? Unfortunately, it is impossible to know for certain. A lot of it depends on your driving habits, how heavy the car is, and the brand of the pads. For safety purposes, it is recommended that you replace your pads quickly once you begin to hear the noise. Changing your brake pads is a fairly simple process, as far as car repairs go, and only a handful of tools are necessary. You can buy new brake pads inexpensively at just about any local auto part's shop. If you've done work on vehicles in the past, and if you like to do repairs on your own vehicle, why not consider saving some money by changing your own brake pads. However, if you do not feel comfortable servicing your own vehicle, especially in an area like the brakes, which can cause a dangerous or fatal situation if not changed properly, then definitely leave the work to the professionals to deal with.
Squeaky brakes make a very annoying sound. Along with belt squeal, these horrible sounds can make a car sound as though it's on the verge of exploding. It's best to get the problems taken care of quickly.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6488374 by Ben Mester
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