I have a 2003 outback wagon with about 160,000 miles on it.  It is making a high pitched whine or squealing
noise only when backing up.  Hit the breaksand it almost quiets down but doesn’t completely go away until the car stops
moving.  I have a lot of snow on the ground and I have to work on my car on the ground so I can’t really look at it
yet.  But it would be good to have any thoughts about where to start looking when it warms up some.

 

Sounds like the wear indicators on your brake pads are, well...  indicating wear.

Often called "tweeter" or "squealer"  it consists of a small tab of thin metal attached to the brake pad that rubs on the brake rotor when the pads are nearly worn out.

Edited January 25, 201412 yr by brus brother

Thanks for the reply. 

 

I was thinking about that too but I’m used to the wear indicators
sounding more tinny than this sound I have and making the sound when the brakes
are applied rather than going away. 

 

But it is a good suggestion and a good place to start looking when the snow goes
away.  We don’t drive the car much and if
it needs pads I’ll do the rotors too.