Luckily, when your car's brakes are starting to wear out, they'll let you know — literally. Brakes are designed to squeal when they start to wear out, which is both a natural by-product of the design of the product and a deliberate warning for car owners to have their brakes inspected.
When your brakes start to squeal, it's time to give them an inspection. Here are things you need to consider when your brakes start making noise.
Your brakes need to be bled
Are your brakes making an airy squealing sound or more of a grunt or grumble when you press on them? If so, then it's time to have them looked at because there might be air in your brake line. This can happen when you have your brake oil changed or filled and can be easily fixed by bleeding the brakes. Your mechanic can do this for you.
Your brakes have a rock or metal in them
If your brakes sound like you're dragging tin cans behind your car when you drive, then you likely have a piece of metal or other debris stuck in the brakes themselves. If your brakes have a rock in them, then they can stick, causing damage to the brake pads and other parts of the braking system and causing you to face a potential wreck. Your mechanic can quickly identify what is causing your brakes to make such a racket and can repair them as needed.
Your brake pads are worn out
The classic screech or squeal your brakes do when you activate them can mean that your brakes are starting to wear out. If your brake pads are low, you have more metal rubbing on metal, leading to that high-pitched sound. Your brakes will eventually wear out completely and lose their ability to slow your car down if you don't have them checked, so go to a mechanic as soon as you notice the first squeak of older brakes.
With regular care and proper driving practices, your car's brakes should last for a long time. If your car vibrates when you apply the brakes, your brakes appear slow to respond, or your brakes are more responsive on one side of your car and not the other, then it's time to take your car in to have the brakes checked out. Your mechanic will be able to identify what your brakes need, and if they should be replaced, they can do that for you.