Every time Marty Wolf, played by Paul Giamatti in the 2002 movie Big Fat Liar, hit the brakes, the horn honked and continued to honk until he took his foot off the brake pedal. This leads to a fender-bender and to an irate monster truck driver crunching Wolf’s Jaguar XK Leaper convertible.

If every time you hit the brakes while driving down Rt 120 in McHenry, the horn honked, you’d find that annoying. It’s safe to say that you’d even find it embarrassing. Most folks on the road around you wouldn’t like it at all. But, your horn doesn’t have to honk for you to experience the same feelings. Sometimes, the brakes will squeal so loudly, and all on their own, that you feel as though everyone is looking at you whenever you stop.

When your brakes squeal, it is embarrassing. But, more than that, it could indicate a problem with your brakes. You need to bring the car into a professional and have the brakes checked, not just for your vanity but also for your safety. Brakes shouldn’t excessively squeal. And when they do there’s a reason.

You can expect, and accept some minor noise from your brakes when stopping. But it shouldn’t be excessive. It shouldn’t draw attention.

What can cause your brakes to squeal?

There are several reasons that brakes may start making loud noises when you apply the brake pedal, including:

The brake pads are worn: Brake pads actually come with wear tabs. These are designed to make noise as a means of alerting you that they need attention – and replacement. The tabs are like an alarm system to let you know it’s time for a brake job.
The surfaces of the rotors are defective: The rotors, the large, circular metal surfaces that spin with the wheel are manufactured to have smooth, even surfaces. If something changes the surface of the rotor, it’s likely you’ll hear the problem when you depress the brake pedal. You might even feel it.
Excessive heat can warp the rotor. Rocks and other hard objects can damage the rotor. Fortunately, these problems don’t happen often but they do happen. Once again, if you hear noise when braking, whether in downtown McHenry or cruising a street miles away, you should have the brakes looked at soon.
Improper lubrication of the brake pad backing plates: The brake pads are squeezed onto the rotor by the calipers. The brake pads, with a fibrous surface on one side and metal on the other, sits inside the caliper and on either side of the rotor. The backs of the pads should be lubricated, as well as other parts of the calipers. If not done properly, the brakes are liable to make noise.

The point is that you don’t want to hear your brakes squeal on Rt 31 in McHenry, or anywhere else. And, if you do hear the brakes squeal, the embarrassment is only one reason to bring your car into an auto repair technician; safety is the other.