2001 Malibu squeaking noise.

[Unr3a1]

Hey all. I am new to these forums, and I was wondering what could be causing my wheels to squeak. They constantly squeak when I drive, but when I apply the brakes, the squeaking stops. Now my source tells me that the squeaking is to let me know that my pads are low, but I thought the pads were supposed to squeak when they were applied. This squeaking stops when I apply the brakes. Any ideas? Thanks.

[Kemi]

Originally Posted by Unr3a1

Hey all. I am new to these forums, and I was wondering what could be causing my wheels to squeak. They constantly squeak when I drive, but when I apply the brakes, the squeaking stops. Now my source tells me that the squeaking is to let me know that my pads are low, but I thought the pads were supposed to squeak when they were applied. This squeaking stops when I apply the brakes. Any ideas? Thanks.

It is the wear indicators on the brake pads. Change them before they start grinding.

[Speedy_1234]

Or maybye it the shindles or what ever you call them anyways the ones that are place in the caliper there are three that you have to put.

[Unr3a1]

Originally Posted by Kemi

It is the wear indicators on the brake pads. Change them before they start grinding.

I thought the wear indicators were supposed to squeak when I step on the brakes. This squeaking stops when I step on the brakes.

[Speedy_1234]

Nope it the other way around
They grind while the car is in motion Due to cause the drive to get mad and change the brakes to stop hearing the noise

[Kemi]

Originally Posted by Unr3a1

I thought the wear indicators were supposed to squeak when I step on the brakes. This squeaking stops when I step on the brakes.

The wear indicators are squeaking because they are doing their job. They are supposed to squeak/squeal when the brakes aren't applied. The reason:

The brake pad has a metal tab ie a 'wear indicator' attached to the backing plate of the pad. When the friction material wears down to an almost worn out depth, the tab will make contact with the rotor causing the squeak/squeal. You don't hear it when you apply the brake because they will push back when the brakes are applied due to the pressure.

A grinding noise occurs when your friction material wears out completely and your backing plate begins to make contact with the rotor. At this point, the rotors need to be replaced even if they are thick enough to resurface.

On a side note...

In my experience most rotors usually cannot be resurfaced nowadays, even when they are thick enough. This is because the rotors will not spin straight on a lathe because they are warped and you cannot cut the rotor if it will not spin straight. If you do, the runout will cause pulsation, noise, poor performance... In my opinion it's the poor quality used in the industry that causes so many rotors to warp but on the bright side, they're not that expensive anymore (poor quality?).

Anyway, save yours if you can.

[Speedy_1234]

Ok Ok I know but the ones I talking about are the other three piceces two are where the brake go on in other words they side in theses two and the other oneis in the caliper in the middle of it. If you don't change them when you change the brakes the start to move around and cause to squeak

[Kemi]

Speedy,

If you're refering to the brake hardware clips, yes, they can squeak/squeal also. Usually, it will be constant though.