06 Pontiac Torrent - My brakes sounds like the are whining when I stop and you can feel some tension on the foot pedal and the noise is awful!!! Any suggestions. Thanks

you don't say where the noise is. that is important to give a clue where the issue is. when stopping on the brakes 3 things happen. you press the pedal and the abs pump starts pumping fluid. the second is the brake capilers start pushing on the rotors to slow the car. the rotors are attached to the wheels and that stops the car. so if the rotors are warped you will feel a vibration in the steering wheel when stepping on the brakes. if its your foot feeling the pump working that is normal for abs pumping. you should feel it and holding the pedal will keep it working and stop you from skidding if everything is working correctly

The only thing I would think of is. At the GM dealer ask for a service bulletin for the 2006 Pontiac Torrent if any or look for any changes in body configuration and under the car. Whining noise could be a big puzzle. Need a very good technician in noise problem to find out and very expensive to find if not under warranty.

Hope it helps.

This is most dangerous for you. I think that your power brake boost has failed, possibly due to a split vacuum hose. You can test this...
With the engine off, pump the brake pedal hard a few times. Then press down hard on the pedal and start the engine. You should feel the pedal sink perceptibly under your foot.
If this seems OK then your brake pads may be down to the metal on one or more wheels even though you here no noise. Remove the front wheels and have a look, as on p22 here (a later model).

http://www.turboninjas.com/camry/br.pdf

If the pedal feels spongy underfoot, and you can get better brakes by pumping the pedal vigorously, then there is air in the brake system, and it will need to be bled, as on p9

My was doing that a few months ago and it was actually the altinator.

metal on metal instead of brake pad on metal. the brakes need attention, unrelated to snow.

worn pads or a bad master cylinder

ITS ONE OF THE FOLLOWING FUSE, BULBS, MOST LIKELY THE SWITCH ON THE BRAKE PEDAL.

depends where the whining is coming from, usually it will be a problem with the belts and or one of the pulleys, usually the tensioner pulley or power steering pulley

If I understand you correctly, you feel a vibration it the brake pedal when you apply the brakes. Is that correct?
Have your brake rotors re surfaced; they are warped.

"engine makes cavitating noise" ....what does this mean?

Front wheel bearings, or possibly rotors.