High-pitched squeak
Usually the wear indicator: a small metal tab designed to squeal when the pads are nearly done. You have some time, but book a brake inspection this week. Ours is free.
Metal-on-metal grinding
The pads are gone and the steel backing plate is cutting into the rotor. Every mile turns a pad job into a pad-and-rotor job. This one means stop driving and call us.
Thump or pulsing pedal
Warped or unevenly worn rotors. Not an emergency, but braking distance suffers and it gets worse. Often fixable with new rotors and pads.
Soft pedal that sinks
Air or moisture in the brake fluid, a leaking line, or a failing master cylinder. Treat it as urgent; a pedal that goes to the floor is a pedal that may not stop you.
