TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) -- No noise is good noise when it comes to your car's brakes, but what happens when you do hear a squeak, squeal or grind? Are you nervous, or just keep on cruising? We're breaking down these three common sounds in this Angie's List report.
You know the scene... you're behind the wheel and start hearing a little squeak as you stop. It could be the call of a big repair bill or it might be nothing. Many people will drive on, hoping they won't hear the squeak again. And some of them will get lucky.
"It could be dirt and it could be the pads are starting to glaze over. Sometimes a couple of really good, hard stops will fix that, but if it continues, it's best to have it looked at," said automotive service technician Fred Kuhn.
Angie Hicks, founder of Angie's List, adds: "If your brakes squeak when you stop, that might just mean that your brakes need lubricated and don't need replaced. But if you do hear a high-pitched squeal that goes away when there's added pressure put to the brakes, that's a sign that you need new brake pads and should be checked out right away."
The really scary sound is the grind, sometimes like a low growl. That indicates rotor damage, which is a major safety issue.
"If the brake pad is chewing into the rotor, that can cause that wheel to lock up, whether it's on the front of the vehicle or the rear of the vehicle," said automotive service technician Robert Vawter.
If the rotors are damaged, ask your technician about replacing them instead of trying a repair.
"Nowadays, a lot of places are cheaper to replace pads and rotors than to resurface. You also get a much better brake job with a much better longevity of the pads," said Kuhn.
The cost of a brake job can vary widely depending on the type of vehicle and the extent of the damage, but expect to pay between $200 and $300 if you only need new pads. Double that if you also need new rotors.
New pads can last anywhere from 20,000 to 60,000 miles, depending on how you drive.
Remember you can catch the latest Angie's List report every Tuesday morning on WTXL Sunrise.
