Why are my brakes squeaking?
Installing a brake controller is a fairly easy task. The first step involves simply mounting the brake controller in an area that is easy to access. Most people choose to place it under the dashboard and directly above your right leg; this keeps the brake controller in view, where you can monitor any potential problems.
Brake controllers typically come with a four-wire configuration, which can be hooked up to the braking system's wiring. The four separate connections are:
- Trailer feed - supplies brake power to the trailer connector
- Ground - connects the brake controller to a negative, grounded source
- Brake switch - the wire that transfers power once the brake pedal is pressed
- Battery power - supplies power to the brake controller
If you're not comfortable with bundles of wires, you might want to have a trained professional take care of your brake controller installation; however, if you know what you're doing and follow the directions provided by the device's manufacturer, installing a brake controller shouldn't be a problem.
Because brakes are a vital part of your car, it's important to have an expert perform any of the above changes to your brake system. In addition, it's very possible a completely different problem is causing your brake noise, so have a mechanic make sure it's not a more serious problem before you dismiss it as "normal brake noise." Remember: Brakes are designed to make noises when they're going bad to warn you, so it's actually a good thing. It's certainly better to find out your brakes are going bad hearing a squeak than jamming on the brake and not being able to stop.
Have a compact car? A high-pitched squeal often happens on smaller cars and is heard in the first few stops when brakes are cold and damp. Certain brands can be noisier than others, but there's an upside - these harder pads that have more metal generally last longer since they're stronger.