Whenever you try to slow down or stop your car while driving lately, you may have noticed a loud squeaking noise as soon as you apply the brake pedal. You may have also found that there is a period of hesitation between the time you hit the pedal and when the car's brakes respond.

There are a couple of possible reasons why you are hearing this sound while you are braking. Whichever issue is causing the squeaking and the hesitation, you will need to have a professional inspect the brakes to see what must be done to fix them.

1. Rust Has Formed on the Surfaces of the Brake Rotors

One possible reason why your car's brakes are making a squeaking sound whenever they are engaged is that the surfaces of the rotors are rusty. Normally, when the pads come into contact with the rotors, they grip the surface evenly to create enough friction to stop the vehicle.

However, if the rotors' surfaces are rusty, the pads cannot fully grab onto them, causing only intermittent friction. As the pads try to regain their grip, they will create the squeaking noise that you have been hearing. A professional will need to replace the rotors if this is causing the problem.

2. Brake Pads Are So Worn That They Are Too Thin to Provide Cushioning

Another possible issue is that the brake pads themselves are worn out and have become uneven. In some areas, the pads may be so thin that they are no longer providing enough cushion between them and the metal of the rotors.

When you try to stop the car, the thin, uneven pads will not be able to fully grab and create the friction needed. As with rusted rotors, the pads will skip along the surfaces and produce a squeaking noise. If the pads are not changed, you run the risk of having them also damage the rotors, which would require that both components be replaced.

If you hear a squeaking sound every time you apply the brakes on your car, the rotors' surfaces may be so rusted that the pads are not able to get a full grip. Another possible explanation is that the pads themselves are so worn out that they have thinned and no longer provide even traction. Both of these issues will cause the brakes to skip, creating the sound. Take your car to a shop that offers auto brake services in your area as soon as you hear the squeaking so that they can fix the underlying issue.