The 2007 Honda Civic was a year removed from a drastic redesign that took the conservative-looking Civic and gave it an ultra-modern design. The 2007 Civic EX came standard with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that produced 140 horsepower. The 2007 Civic EX also came standard with four-wheel ventilated disc brakes. There are four main causes for a squealing or squelching sound from the front disc brakes on the 2007 Civic EX.
Brake Hardware
The front brake pads on the 2007 Civic EX have two thin metal components, known as pad retainers. These hold the pads tight, while allowing them to move in and out with the caliper. Damage sometimes occurs to these retainers, bending them inward. If they bend far enough inward, they can cause a loud screeching sound from the front brakes. In this situation, replacing the retainers will rectify your problem.
Brake Pads
The front brake pads on the 2007 Civic EX have a service limit of 0.06 inches. When the pad lining gets to or below this thickness, a small metal tab -- called a wear indicator -- lightly touches the rotor. This light contact causes a high-pitch squeal from the Civic's front brakes. In this case, replacing the brake pads will rectify the noise from the front brakes.
Glazed Rotors
Stopping your 2007 Civic EX creates a lot of heat between the brake pads and the rotor. The constant heating and cooling can create a smooth glaze on the rotors, giving them a mirror-like shine. The brake pads work best when they have a rough surface to grip; a smooth surface can cause the pads to vibrate at a high rate of speed. This vibration causes a high-pitch squeal from the front of the Civic. Having the rotors resurfaced or replaced can rectify this problem.
Brake Dust
The brake system creates a lot of dust when used. If enough of this brake dust lodges in the pads, this can cause a lot of noise to come from the front of the Civic. Having the brakes disassembled and cleaned may rectify this problem. You can also use a high-end ceramic brake pad to lower the chances of this happening.
