My girlfriend is driving my '98 SE and the brakes start to squeal. Not a light squeak, but a wake-up-the-neighbors squeel...it was happening anytime the car was in motion, even when she wasn't on the brake pedal. I tell her to slam on the brakes a couple times...she does...the sound goes away. This happened once on my old VW and it never came back. Anyone else have this happen to them?

Could this be a sign of a serious problem? Or should I forget about it unless the squeal returns?

 

There are indicators on the brake pads that when the pads become low they come in contact with the rotor and make a god awful sound that is suppose to tell you that you need some new pads. Check that first.

 

better have it looked at. Cheaper to just change the pads and turn the rotor than buying entire brake system.

 

If it went away I would say it's not the pads but deffinietely get em checked out. It is probably your rotors needing to be turned. I had to have a few of mine done because they were squeaking.