New Brakes Squeak When Stopping Slow: Causes & Fixes

Have you ever been in a situation where you try to slow down the car while pressing the brake and you notice a squeak coming from the brake? What is even worse is that even new brakes tend to sometimes squeak.

Whatever the case is, the best decision you can make is to take your car to a mechanic and let them find out what leads to that. However, if you want a general insight into what can be the reasons for your brakes squeaking keep reading further and maybe you will find the answer.

Why Do the New Brakes when Stopping Slowly? – Common reasons

Having to deal with new breaks squeaking can lead to being frustrated and asking yourself if you are safe enough while driving. In your further reading, you will be provided with some of the things that might be the reasons why your new brakes squeak while stopping slow, including:

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Break-in

Whenever replacing brakes, you should make sure that the new brake pads come correctly in touch with the rotors. This even means that you should pass a great distance with your car so that the brakes and the rotors get in contact.

Keep in mind to never force or slam your brakes because that is not the way that they should be fixed; that will only lead you to ruin them completely.

How to fix it?

If you have replaced your pads at the mechanic or service center, then they should provide you with the brake break-in.

On the other hand, if the brakes were replaced by you, then you should consider driving your car for a mile or two at a slow pace until you notice the squeak disappear.

Thus, be careful of what location you choose for performing this process. Do not choose dangerous areas for executing this task.

Moisture

Another reason why your brakes might start squeaking is having a spread of moisture in the rotors and pads. That moisture is a result of ice, rain, or snow. This can be caused also by an overnight steam build-up on the metal parts forming a rusting surface.

 How to fix it?  

This problem comes with the same solution as the break-in, being; if you had overnight condensation, you should try to drive your car for some miles so that it dries out and your pads should not squeak anymore.

Low-Quality Brakes

Most of the brakes come in materials that commonly squeak, however, there do exist brakes that squeak less than the before mentioned ones. What you might want to avoid choosing is braking pads made from a metal combination such as steel, iron, copper, and graphite.

Your best choice should be brakes that come as organic, containing resins, glass, and rubber; you might also consider braking pads from ceramic.

How to fix it?

If your braking pads look cheap to you and of low quality consider replacing them with better quality braking pads; that way you will have the chance to use them for a longer time, not having to replace them as often as the cheap ones.

However, ceramic pads might not be always adequate for strong and heavy breaking circumstances and you might be stuck with the cheap ones once again.

Excessive use of the brake

Whenever you catch yourself with excessive use of the new braking pads, stop it immediately. Constant brake use without any reason might lead up to an increase in the sound of the squeaking pads. Avoid heavy loads or mountain drives for some time. This will save your brakes and money as well.

How to fix it?

You can fix this situation of the brakes with a try of a quick stop. Find yourself a safe place to give your car a break and make your brakes rest a bit so that they reduce their squeak.

Lack of lubrication

This can happen if you own a car that has a drum braking system (drum brakes that spin with the wheels), leading to outward pressing of the shoes as opposed to the drum. The lack of lubrication results in a squeaking noise because of the scratching against the backing plate.

How to fix it?

If you notice this being the case with your squeaking brakes you might want to try spreading a brake lubricant to the plate where the shoes and the piston connect.

Additional brake noises

Except for squeaking, you might encounter your car with other noise produce that you might consider knowing. Read further to find out which are those and what to do if hearing them.

Rattling. Whenever you drive above a bump or hole you might face the rattling noise that comes from the wheels; this might mean that a lot is happening in the front end of your vehicle. If this noise doesn’t disappear then it is time to see your mechanic.

Grinding. This appears to be a huge issue when it appears as a noise in your brakes. Grinding mostly means that your break and calipers are hitting; this also cannot be solved at home and you better take it to the service center for a better outcome.

Thumping. These noises mostly arise when your rotors are deformed. This means that you should go and replace your rotors with new ones so the noise vanishes.

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Final Words

Not every time the squeaking noise that comes from your car is serious for the car to be taken immediately to the mechanic.

However, if you notice that the new brakes that you just replaced squeak while you stop slow and the noise does not disappear whatever you try to do; then the service center will probably be the best choice as a solution.

The sooner you act in finding the solution to this issue the more money you will spare; neglecting the noises of your car might lead you to more serious problems that weren’t even there in the first place. Hopefully, you found helpful information regarding new brake squeaks.