'95 Villager (Quest) brake wear indicator sound?

[tdc1948]

Lately I've been getting an intermittent squeak noticeable at low speeds. It goes away when brakes are applied, and appears to be unrelated to suspension issues (i.e. bumps or glass-smooth road, still the same). Seems to be coming from a rear wheel.

I'm guessing it's a brake wear indicator telling me my pads are getting thin, but the only other time I've had a car (Buick LeSabre) give out such a warning, the sound was competely different: a fear-inducing metal-on-metal screechy squeal, not a squeak. This is definitely a squeak.

Can anyone confirm that squeak-squeak-squeak is the expected sound of the brake wear indicator doing its job?

[dzus]

Rear brakes don't have a wear indicator. The drums may just need removed and cleaning out the brake dust then re-adjust brake shoes. CAUTION: don't breathe the brake dust!

[tdc1948]

Originally Posted by dzus

Rear brakes don't have a wear indicator. The drums may just need removed and cleaning out the brake dust then re-adjust brake shoes. CAUTION: don't breathe the brake dust!

Aha - thanks! I'm not sure, of course, that it's actually coming from the rear, but I'll have a look. Does the squeak sound right for that? Or is squeak what would be expected of the front wear indicators?

[dzus]

The front wear indicators will make a loud squealing noise every time the brakes are applied. Most pads will sqeak some just because of the material there made of.

[tdc1948]

Originally Posted by dzus

The front wear indicators will make a loud squealing noise every time the brakes are applied. Most pads will sqeak some just because of the material there made of.

Right. It's not the squeal I'd associate with a wear indicator, and it goes away when brakes are applied. It's also not the usual squeak of pads. Mystery. Seems to be worse when cold. Today it was 60 degrees, and I didn't hear a bit of it.