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If your brakes are squealing and leaving dust residue, then they're completely worn down past safe limits.

The hi-pitched squealing is a warning feature of brake systems. It's caused by devices which are inserted in the brake pads themselves to warn the driver that the brake pads are completely worn down, and need to be replaced ASAP. The warning devices are similar to tread wear indicators on tires, only they're audible in nature.

If you don't get the pads replaced and continue to drive, eventually all of the pad material will wear out, and you'll get metal/metal contact with the brake pad plates and the rotors themselves. If you do, the resulting damage can wear a rotor out to the point where it cannot be milled down (turned) and saved for reuse. In that case, you'll have to replace the rotors and the pads.

If another car pulls alongside and tells you that they've seen sparks coming from your wheels when you brake, it's a safe bet that they're worn down too far.

You can tell if the rotors are being worn down - run your finger over the rotor plates, and if they're getting messed up, you'll feel wavy ridges in the metal. In most cases, if it's bad enough, you can actually see the ridges just by looking at them from the outside even when the wheel's on if your wheel allows you to see the rotor.

Trust me - replacing pads and turning worn rotors are a lot cheaper to replace than having to purchase and install new pads and rotors.

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Q: Why do your brakes always squeal and leave black residue on your wheels?
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