A squeak that your brakes make when you first drive your car in the morning could be the result of moisture and/or dirt that collects on the rotors, including from condensation caused by high humidity. Under these circumstances the squeak should go away after a short period of driving and applying the brakes a few times. Simple.
If you notice that the noise is not going away or you hear nonstop squeaking while you’re driving, the cause may be more serious and should be checked out right away by a trusted auto shop like One Stop Automotive to avoid higher repair costs.
Nonstop squealing while you drive is probably the sound of the brake pad wear indicator (squealer) letting you know it’s time for new brakes. When the braking material on the brake pads gets too thin, the "squealers" rub on the brake rotors. This makes the squealing or squeaking noise that you hear. Some cars have electronic brake pad wear sensors, but most have the squealers. During a proper brake service, the moving parts of the brake system will be fully inspected, cleaned, lubricated and fresh brake pads and even new rotors or drums (if you have brake shoes).
If the steering wheel shakes or vibrates when you engage the brakes, that is probably caused by warped brake rotors. This causes poor brake performance and if the shaking gets bad enough, it can become a safety hazard. I have test driven some vehicles with bad brakes that nearly shook the fillings out of my teeth. Your vehicle’s braking should always feel smooth.
Good quality brake pads and rotors are very important. Lesser quality or discount parts will also cause poor braking. These pads can wear out quicker and the cheap rotors are also likely to warp more quickly due to being made of cheap steel or iron.
No matter what the cause of the noise, if you hear something you should get your car to a trusted mechanic.
On the other hand, if you hear scary grinding noises, then your brake pads are worn beyond the manufacturer’s specification for replacement. The braking material on the pads is completely worn off and the mounting plate is grinding against the brake rotor. This means you will also need to replace the rotors due to the damage. You should always be listening for unusual noises of any type while you are driving. I suggest that people drive for about ten minutes at least once a week with no distractions like music or cell phones so they can hear the vehicle. You'd be surprised at what you will hear with no hearing distractions.
