Pedal feels wrong? Slow down and stop
If the pedal is soft or sinks, the car pulls to one side when you brake, the brake light is on or you can hear grinding, ease off, slow down gradually and stop somewhere safe. Don't keep testing the brakes on the road. RACV says to get grinding, a warning light or a spongy pedal to a mechanic as soon as possible, and if you're not sure the car will stop, it should be towed. If anyone is hurt or in danger, call 000.
When does the squeal happen?
| What it usually is | How soon | |
|---|---|---|
| First few stops of the day, then gone | Damp or cold brakes. Dew and cold weather make squeal worse, and it fades as the brakes warm up. | Keep an eye on it. |
| Every time you brake, getting louder | A worn pad's indicator tab rubbing on the disc. Mazda's manual calls this a screeching noise that means the pads need replacing. | Have it checked as soon as you can. |
| Light braking only | Vibration between pad and disc, often from dust or glazing. Most of this type doesn't hurt stopping power. | At the next chance, or sooner if it worsens. |
| While you're driving, brakes not on | A wear sensor, a stone in the dust shield, or a dragging pad. | Have it looked at this week. |
| With grinding or a rough pedal | The pad may be down to metal, which is brakes grinding, not squealing. | Now. The NRMA says disc damage happens quickly. |
Why do brakes squeal at all?
Most brake squeal is a vibration. The pad and disc set each other ringing, the same way a wet finger sings on the rim of a glass. That kind of noise is annoying but doesn't reduce stopping power, and it often comes with new pads, heat, dust or a change in the weather.
The other kind is deliberate. Many pads have a small soft metal tab built in, and when the friction material gets thin, the tab touches the disc and squeals. It's the car's way of telling you the pads are near the end. RAC WA says worn pads can go on to damage the discs or drums, and that faulty brakes are illegal as well as dangerous.
You can't always tell which one you've got by ear. That's why a squeal that doesn't go away should be looked at, even when the brakes still feel fine. How long pads last varies a lot with how and where the car is driven, and our brake pad guide explains why.
Can you clean squeaky brakes?
From the driveway, not really, and we'd leave it alone. Spray lubricants and household cleaners near brakes are a bad idea: anything that gets onto a pad or disc can cut stopping power, and the squeal may well be a warning you need to hear. Brakes are the mechanic's job.
If a mechanic finds the pads are still thick, they can take the wheel off, clean out the dust, check the slide pins and the backing plates, and refit everything properly. Some squeals disappear with that alone, which is a good result. Ask them to tell you how much pad is left in millimetres so you've got a number to go on.
What to do before you call
Listen for the pattern
Note when it happens: cold or warm, light or heavy braking, forward or reverse, and which corner of the car it seems to come from.
Look through the wheel
If you can see through the spokes, look at how thick the pad is against the disc, and whether the disc has deep grooves. Do this parked, with the handbrake on, and without taking anything off.
Think about what's changed
New pads, a long wet spell or a car that's been parked for weeks can all explain it. Tell the mechanic.
What the mechanic will check
They should remove the wheels and measure the pads and discs, not just glance through the spokes. They'll check the calipers and slide pins move freely, look at the brake fluid, and test whether both sides of the car are wearing evenly. Uneven wear can point to a sticking caliper, and that needs fixing as well as the pads.
A good written estimate says what they measured, whether the discs can stay or need replacing, and what's being fitted. Ask to see the old pads. Any mechanic who does brakes regularly can do this, though performance cars and some European cars with electronic handbrakes and wear sensors need the right equipment, so mention your car when you ask.
What you can do, and what's the mechanic's job
You can
- Listen for when the squeal happens, and note it.
- Look at the pad through the wheel spokes, parked.
- Notice any change in how the pedal feels.
Leave to the mechanic
- All brake work, including cleaning, pads and discs.
- Measuring pads and discs, and checking the calipers.
- Checking the brake fluid and any warning light.
What we'd do
A squeak that fades after the first few stops: leave it and listen. One that stays or gets louder: we'd send the job this week, because new pads are a far smaller job than pads, discs and a caliper. Any grinding, a soft pedal or a brake light: we wouldn't drive it, we'd have a mechanic see the car where it's parked.