Creaking noise when I step on the brake (Honda Element)

For safety reasons please have the brakes inspected as soon as possible. Honestly there is more cause for creaking and may or may not have been there before the repairs. I am a full-time mechanic and from time to time have a customer complaint about a noise that wasn't there before the work was performed. Don't get me wrong though, you may be right. If you are then it may be bolts or nuts that was not properly torqued, a surface that wasn't properly cleaned before reassembly or human error. The technician may have missed something or for a necessary step. A faulty caliper with piston issues, a caliper mounting bracket with damaged sliders and or improperly cleaned surfaces where the shims and brake pads slide could all be suspect. The pistons, sliders and brake pads should all move and slide freely, without play. The mechanic may test drive the vehicle to confirm your complaint, inspect all the brake components located behind the wheels and report their findings. If nothing is found they will need to look elsewhere. Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is anything else. Good luck.

Most likely the slack adjuster is rusted. this doesn't keep the brake against the drum/rotor. Could be the bolts that go into the rotor type brakes are frozen. Won't slide in and out.

Did it occur to you that we can't read your mind, and we don't even know what kind of vehicle these brakes are on, let alone if they're drum or disc?

Also, it's important that you better describe the symptom. "Creaking" doesn't cut it. You need to state WHEN and under WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES the noise occurs (standing still? going 40? going 80? brakes applied? brakes not applied? vehicle on fire?), and try to better describe the noise itself.

The exact nature of the creaking is important, and you have not provided enough info to narrow down the problem. The only "creaking" noise I have ever heard like that was coming from the front wheel. If it is going "creak -creak-creak" and changes as the car changes speed, I would check that.

Does it make the noise once before the truck moves, as if the brakes are releasing, or as the truck starts moving like a drive axle ?

the brakes were not installed correctly or something broke hardware wise

My wife drives a 2003 GMC Envoy and has been complaining about this same creaking noise upon breaking or going over speed humps. I researched this topic on the internet high and low and tried everything I read to no avail. I was about to give up and then realized it could be the motor mounts since when you break or go over bumps the engine does have some movement. Sprayed the most interesting looking motor mounts I've ever seen with silicone spray and the noise was gone! My wife has been complaining for years about this noise and now looking back what a simple solution!. By the way my motor mounts where not worn out, the rubber portion of the mount just needed a little lube.

it is the pedal box that is creaking NOT the clutch,quiet a common "fault",spray silicon around the pedals should cure it...

THE NOISE IS CAUSED BY THE CALIPER PINS BEING WORN OR THE STABLIZER RUBBER BUSHING BEING WORN.

if you have hub caps instead of rim most likely you have loose/broken item inside the weel, i had the same problem