5 Brake Noises You Shouldn’t Ignore (And What They Might Mean)

Thursday 14 August 2025

If there’s something wrong with your brakes, unusual brake noises are often the first warning sign. Squealing, howling, and rattling all indicate issues.

As professional mechanics, we strongly advise you seek assistance as soon as you hear any of these noises. Proper servicing keeps you safe and also saves you money long-term (by preventing more extensive damage to the brake unit).

The 5 Brake Noises to Watch For

So, what brake noises should you look out for as a vehicle owner?

1. Squealing or Screeching

Squealing and screeching are usually a result of worn brake pads. When the main contact material wears through, it can lead to poor contact, which then causes damage to your rotors and brake calipers.

Therefore, if you hear squealing, go to a mechanic and get them to replace your brake pads. Acting quickly will prevent future rotor damage.

2. Grinding Noise

A car making grinding noise when braking is another sign your brakes need servicing. Usually here, the cause is more serious metal-on-metal damage due to very worn pads.

If you don't do anything about grinding noises, damage becomes highly likely. Therefore, seek out urgent repairs to prevent an even costlier bill.

3. Clicking or Rattling

Clicking and rattling are also signs your brakes might have a problem. Usually, these sounds indicate loose components (like a shifting caliper) or worn-out hardware.

These issues are usually minor when they first start, only requiring quick re-tightening of bolts. However, they can worsen quickly and start damaging your entire brake setup if you leave them unattended.

4. Pulsing or Vibration When Braking

Pulsing or vibrations during braking almost always indicate warped rotors. When new, rotors are straight perfect discs. However, they can become bent over time, especially if you have wheel alignment issues or have been involved in a collision.

Unfortunately, bent rotors reduce braking performance and harm safety. If they are out of alignment, it prevents the caliper from gripping onto them properly during some parts of their rotation.

If you have this issue, it is critical to replace the rotor. Usually, you won’t be able to bend a warped rotor back into place again and make it true.

5. Hissing or Air-Like Sound When Pressing Pedal

Finally, if you hear hissing or an air-like sound when depressing the brake pedal, it usually indicates a vacuum leak or brake booster issue.

If you think you have this problem, get it checked ASAP. On most vehicles, it means less stopping power.

What Happens If You Ignore These Noises

Ignoring brake-related issues on your vehicle is not a good idea. Usually, it means longer stopping distances, damage to rotors/calipers, and serious safety risks. Brakes can sometimes fail entirely if they don’t get the servicing that they need. Damage to the core components, especially the caliper and rotor, can leave you without a way to slow down.

In extreme cases, failure can occur rapidly. What seems like a slow issue can suddenly worsen and rapidly degrade your brake apparatus, leading to higher repair and replacement costs.

How All Coast Tyres Can Help

The good news is that if you have a problem with your brakes right now, All Coast Tyres can help. We’re local brake specialists with all the facilities and tools needed to ensure your vehicle is safe to drive on the road.

We offer:

Quick inspections

It usually only takes us a few minutes to diagnose the issue with your brakes. Once we know the problem, we can provide you with options for what to do next.

Upfront quotes

We also provide 100% upfront quotes. With us, you know how much your brake repairs will cost before we do any work, so there are no nasty surprises.

Same-day repairs in many cases

Lastly, because we keep a large number of parts in stock for various brake types, we can provide same-day repairs in many cases. This means that you can drive your vehicle away the same day once we carry out essential maintenance. If your vehicle needs to stay with us longer, we will tell you as soon as we can.

Are you having issues with your brakes? If so, book a brake check today online with All Coast Tyre Solutions in Maroochydore, Nambour or Gympie and experience for yourself our elite service quality. Alternatively, contact us directly.