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I hear some whining noise always and only releasing brakes, but that noise is completely gone if it's raining while I'm driving. What could the issue be? I drive a Hyundai Sedan (elantra 2009). Also I only change my brakes a year ago, mechanic checked them 2 weeks ago and told me I should be good for about 4-5 more years. The whining noise is a sound that is a bit between a cat meowing and a dog whimpering.

I don't feel any problems with the brakes at all when driving. No other sounds except that specific whining noise when releasing them on a dry or hot day.

Please share your wisdom, thank you.

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    Is this a brief sound only for a moment after you release the brakes? Or is it a continuous sound that you hear, possibly for many minutes, until the next time you depress the brakes?
    – MTA
    Apr 18 at 20:42
  • Welcome to Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair!
    – Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 ♦
    Apr 18 at 20:55
  • @MTA It is a brief sound after I release the brakes.
    – answerSeeker
    Apr 18 at 22:05
  • Does it also happen when the car is stationary?
    – Martin
    Apr 19 at 19:44
  • @martin yes it does, on hot and dry days.
    – answerSeeker
    Apr 19 at 23:07

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It could be your brake booster. The brake booster is the device that puts the "power" in power brakes. It operates from engine vacuum. A momentary sigh from the brake booster is harmless.

To see if it's the brake booster, sit in the car with the engine OFF and step on the brake several times in a row. You'll notice that the brake pedal offers more and more resistance with each press. When it doesn't seem to be getting any harder with each new press, depress the brake once, then release. Doggie noise or no noise? Assuming no noise, now start the car and let the engine settle for a few moments, then depress the brake once and release. Doggie noise or no noise? If you got no noise the first time -- after exhausting the vacuum in the brake booster -- and a noise the second time, that's pretty convincing evidence that the brake booster is making the noise.

There's no reason to remedy this unless you can't stand the noise. It's not a sign of trouble. Some brake boosters sigh, that's just the way it is. I can't explain why it would stop sighing when it rains.

Other possibilities:

On your brake calipers there are slider pins and there are ways (channels) in which the brake pads move ever-so-slightly when the brake pedal is depressed and released. These are normally inspected and/or lubricated at each brake job and they can make a little noise if they run dry. Rain could make them stop squeaking. You can ask your mechanic if he or she lubricated them at the last brake job, and follow their advice if you trust their work and integrity.

Some other part of the brake system such as the master cylinder, the piston in a caliper, a hydraulic hose or a hydraulic line could make a noise from fluid turbulence upon releasing the brake pedal. Very unlikely and not necessarily a sign of trouble. Even the pivot pin at the top of the brake pedal arm could squeak, though none of these would stop when it rains. Since your brakes are working normally and your mechanic sees normal wear and plenty of life left in the pads, in my opinion nothing else needs to be done.

If the brake booster is not the cause and the noise is bothering you, the only way to further diagnose it is with two people: one to step on the brake and another to go around the car with good ears and possibly a stethoscope to find the source.

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