Top 5 Brake Complaints and How to Resolve Them

Auto Brake

I think we can all agree that the braking system is the most important safety device on any vehicle. Since people place such a high value on their car’s ability to slow and stop, it is smart to pay attention when they complain about the brakes.

1.       Noise

Brake noise, or squealing, is the most obvious problem to drivers. Unwanted movement of brake components causes the noise. What’s the solution? Keep brake components in place per factory specifications and properly prepare surfaces during service.

In addition to the normal inspections for binding, corrosion, lack of lubrication, and worn or damaged components, clean the caliper moving parts and retaining hardware. Clean pin bores with a round wire brush and cleaner to remove old lubricant and corrosion.

2.       Pulsation

Pulsation is another issue that is obvious to the driver. Use a polishing pad to clean as much rust as possible from the hub face and next to the studs. Leaving corrosion in these areas is one of the top causes of pulsation.

An often overlooked area is the wheel hub mounting pad. If there is rust or debris in this area, it can lead to rotor distortion and pulsation just as easily as if debris were left on the hub.

Another common cause of pulsation is uneven tightness of wheel lugs. Lighter components on today’s vehicles can be easily distorted. Eliminate this issue by lightly seating and then torqueing wheels to specification in two stages. On wheels with lug-centric hubs, rotate the wheel as the lugs are seated to help keep the wheel centered on the hub.

3.       Dust

When applying braking force, small amounts of material gradually abrade from the brake pads. This material, known as “brake dust,” usually deposits on the braking system and the surrounding wheel.

The proper friction material choice can affect dusting. Different brake pad formulations create different amounts of dust, and some formulations, particularly metallic brake pads, create more dust than others. Ceramic brake pads contain significantly fewer metal particles, and therefore produce less abrasion of surrounding metal parts.

Excessive Wear

Common complaints due to excessive wear are usually due to lack of maintenance, hard driving style, or vehicle usage characteristics. Brakes on one vehicle may last substantially longer if the owner drives it easy or takes more highway trips. If the owner overloads the vehicle, makes short, stop-and-go trips, or leaves one foot on the brake pedal while driving, the pads will have more wear and failures from the abuse.

4.       Stopping Performance

Stopping performance is crucial for today’s high performance vehicles and driving conditions. Poor performance can be related to a previous brake job that was done improperly, failing components, vehicle overloading, or installing the wrong type of friction material. Proper inspection, preparation, and break-in are the best ways to overcome these issues.