Noisy brakes tell you that your brake pads need fixing. It's difficult to determine whether or not your car really needs to be dismantled to fix it, though. Take note that the extent of the damage can't be guessed by simply studying the nature of the noise. In all likelihood, you will not have the necessary expertise to deduce a real damage just by listening to cars. Do not be mistaken, though, as that is very possible for people who have expertise in the field of automotive. The noise can be caused either by something potentially dangerous to you, as a driver, or by something that is just a matter of inconvenience.
Suffice to say, an average driver will not have the necessary skills to figure out what the damage is just by the screeching sound the braking makes; that is, if it is really the brake pad that is causing the problem. In a lot of cases, the noise your vehicles brake pads make are nonthreatening, which means it could be simple dust or metal that somehow got stuck on the pads. It is easy to fix. In fact, you can leave it be and it will go away, after a time. Or, if you really cannot take the squealing, you can always disassemble the brakes and clean the pads, then put it back again.
If the problem is serious, leaving the noise alone is out of the question. There are cases when the noise is caused by breakage or weakening of the components. After all, brakes are subject to constant wear and tear, and will reduce in quality after a time. If there really is a problem that needs fixing in the brakes, the noise is a clear call for help, meant to get your attention. Otherwise it can be very disastrous for you, as well as your passengers.
There are methods you can use to make your assumption if only a little bit more accurate. One way is to consider the age of the vehicle. It is common sense that older vehicles will be less durable than brand new ones. In perspective, brand new vehicles will have new brake systems installed and haven't been subjected to damage as of yet. The downside is that trying to do this method is dangerous, especially for second-hand cars that are advertised to be newer than they really are.
If the first method is not reliable, another way to detect the cause of the noise is to consider what sorts of things accompany it. For example, delayed or advanced braking can be a sign that the brake pads are not functioning very well, and that the noise is an indicator of a foreboding disaster. Sharp pulls when turning left or right or cutting tight corners might also be a signal. If it is, the car needs to be looked at by someone working at the auto shop as soon as possible.
There are two very common causes for noisy brake pads: dust and substances. The brake pads are made of different substances or materials, which can cause noise when ground together. Dust basically sticks to the brake pads and make them rougher than necessary. When you hit the brakes, those dust particles create annoying squeal-like noises.
After the dust settles into the pads, they will create noise for a time. Fortunately, they go away on their own, which means you do not really have to do anything to remove them. The dust particles have nothing with which to attach permanently.
It will take only weeks before such constant minimal damage add up to something great. To avoid this, you can try dampening the pads frequently, or bring your car to the shop to have the mechanics do something to reduce dust entry points.
In summary, it is very important to know what is causing the noise in your automotive brakes systems. It can be no more than an inconvenience, but sometimes it can be serious, too. If you wish to buy brand new brake pads, consider looking on the internet to find the best possible prices from online auto part dealers.