Squeaky brakes are a problem that many drivers will encounter at some point during car ownership, but General Motors recently announced that they have developed technology to reduce the likelihood of this sound. High-pitched screeching noises can be caused by thinning brake pads or warped or cracked rotors, and this noise can sound like nails on chalkboard to many.

The sound can also be caused by the friction of the brake pads rubbing against the rotors. There are friction-reducing materials currently being used in vehicles, but this can wear down quickly. The Coulomb friction-damped disc brake is designed to last longer by including a metal ring inside the rotor to reduce the part's vibration.

"The Coulomb damped brake essentially creates a bell that doesn't want to ring," said Jim Schroth, a GM group manager. "By absorbing the vibrations in the rotor with a special insert, we're silencing the bell."

The new technology is expected to be installed in vehicles within two to three years, according to The New York Times. Until it is widely available, drivers may want to invest in car warranties, which can cover the cost of brake pad and rotor replacement to keep brakes running well and quietly on their current vehicles.