The name “disc brakes” comes from the way that the brakes are designed. As you drive down the road, your wheels are bolted to a wheel bearing and hub assembly. Attached to the spinning hub is a disc and on either side of the spinning disc are brake pads. Similar to a bicycle, when the brakes are depressed the caliper, which holds the brake pads, hydraulically squeezes the brake pads against the disc to slow the car down. As this happens day in and day out, the brake pads slowly wear down. Many brake pads utilize a little piece of sheet metal that is riveted to the brake pad backing plate. This is affectionately called “the screamer” because when the pad wears down to that point it begins to vibrate against the spinning rotor and make a high-pitched sizzling noise. This is to indicate that the brake pads are in need of replacement.