Noisy brakes is a definitely a sign that the car is in need of immediate attention. The real extent of the damage on the breaks can be guessed on the nature of the noise. However, not very many people are able to do that. With the exception of professional car mechanics or someone with the same expertise, no person will be able to deduce the problem just by listening to the noise. The noise itself could be nothing serious, a matter that can be fixed in no more than a few minutes. On the flipside, if could be something totally different, let alone potentially dangerous.
Since it is hardly possible to be able to point out the damage just by listening to the noise, it is imperative to fix noisy breaks as soon as it comes to notice. Some of the causes for noisy brakes are nonthreatening, caused by small shards of metal or dusts, stuck between the brake pads. When the brake pads are used, these materials create friction with the pads, also creating the noise. If that is the case, then the problem can be resolved easily. It would only take dismantling the brake and removing the obstructing particles and reassembling it all over again. After that, the car would be running like its brakes are brand new.
On the contrary, the problem could be something serious. In some cases, the noise on the brakes is caused by broken or weakened components. After all, the brakes are also subjected to wear and tear, and should be expected to reduce in durability over time. In that case, the noise may be an indicator that one or more components are not functioning correctly, and that the damage may result to something very disastrous. If there is such damage on the brakes, the broken component will have to be adjusted or replaced.
One thing that a driver can use to decide whether or not the braking noise is a serious matter is the age of the vehicle. Similarly, the last time the brakes were replaced or fixed should be taken into consideration. Brand new cars with brand new braking systems are less likely to produce noise, and if they did, chances are that is just caused by dust particles stuck on the brake pads. However, this diagnostic is far from ideal. In fact, it is not very advisable to base the assessment of the damage in the age of the brakes or the vehicle.
A more effective way to detect whether the noise is caused by something potentially dangerous is if it is accompanied by a number of things. Sharp pulls on either side when braking, late braking, advanced braking, less than ideally powerful braking, these are all indications that the loud braking is a serious a problem that the driver must get looked at by professional mechanics as soon as possible.
Two of the most common causes of noisy braking are the substances that are used in making brake pads and dust. Dust, much like other contaminants, can get into the brake pads, the chance more likely if the car is frequently driven on the off-roads.
Once the dusts get into the brake pads, they will cause momentary noises that will soon go away. That is because the dusts have nothing to latch onto in between the brake pads. The dust particles are bound to sooner or later fall out, allowing the brake pads to be noise-free again. This, however, still degrades the quality of the brake pads.
In a matter of weeks, constant dusts on the brake pads will make it less durable and therefore less safe to drive with. One way to help prevent dusts from getting to the brake pads is by dampening the pads.
Most of today's automotive brakes are made of metallic materials, which are more durable and hard wearing. However, they may also cause noise sometimes. In conclusion, it is very crucial for the driver to pay attention to such detail when trying to figure out what is causing this problem.
