brake noise

[bob]

When I brake hard on my 2002 wrx the right front brake makes a scraping
sound "eeeeeee". If I brake gently then no noise.

How can I tell if this is the brake wear indicator signaling the brake pad
needs replacement, or noise due to surface irregularity on the rotor?

It has 55K miles on it and I drive and brake gently 95% of the time. All
brake pads are original haven't been changed.

 

[VanguardLH]

When I brake hard on my 2002 wrx the right front brake makes a scraping
sound "eeeeeee". If I brake gently then no noise.

How can I tell if this is the brake wear indicator signaling the brake pad
needs replacement, or noise due to surface irregularity on the rotor?

It has 55K miles on it and I drive and brake gently 95% of the time. All
brake pads are original haven't been changed.

Some car shops will do a brake inspection for free. Call around.

 

[1 Lucky Texan]

When I brake hard on my 2002 wrx the right front brake makes a scraping
sound "eeeeeee". If I brake gently then no noise.

How can I tell if this is the brake wear indicator signaling the brake pad
needs replacement, or noise due to surface irregularity on the rotor?

It has 55K miles on it and I drive and brake gently 95% of the time. All
brake pads are original haven't been changed.

I'd suggest that, with those low miles on a 2002 you may be on surface
streets a lot. That usually means stop-and-go driving. So, quite
likely it's time for pads - maybe just front pads but if the rears are
more than 50% gone - change them as well.

Also, have the brake fluid flushed. It probably has absorbed a lot of
water if it is also original.Good time to rotate tires also if it
hasn't been done lately.