My brakes make a squealing noise when I try to stop, do they need replacing?

No doubt, brake noise raises concern because we worry the vehicle may be unsafe to drive. While sometimes, noise is an indicator of trouble, that’s not always the case. To be absolutely sure, you need to inspect the brake pads. Sometimes the noise is caused by loose fitting pads in the calipers. Make sure the anti–rattle springs and clips fit nice and tight. Another possibility is to apply a small amount of grease to the back of the pads where the caliper piston comes in contact with the back of the pad. Make sure you use a high temperature grease. Sometimes, the pads are just noisy even though there are no issues. Semi–metallic pads often produce noise because of their metallic content. It is the “metal on metal” that makes the squealing noise. That’s one of the reasons you may be experiencing a noise but you are told everything is fine.