Posted on 28November2025
We hear a lot of odd sounds roll through the bays, and certain ones raise the stakes fast. A quick sound check and a little pattern-matching can tell you whether it is safe to keep driving or it's time to schedule a check. Below are six noises that deserve attention and what they usually mean. 1. High-Pitched Squeal That Stops When You Press The Brake Pedal That brief squeal at low speeds is often a pad wear indicator grazing the rotor. It is designed to get loud before the pad is gone. Light surface rust after rain can squeal too, but it fades after a few stops. If the sound returns daily or grows sharper, the pads may be near the end of life, or the hardware needs cleaning and lubrication. Ignoring it risks scoring the rotors and stretching the stopping distance. 2. Grinding Or Growling That Tracks Road Speed A steady grind while moving points to either pads worn down to the backing plate or a wheel bearing that has started to fail. With pad ... read more