When driving in Austin, if pressing your brake pedal begins making a metallic noise, you may have an underlying issue within your braking system. Brakes that are grinding, regardless of whether or not the pedal is pressed, can lead to severe issues, which is why it’s best to have the vehicle taken to a service centre immediately.
As concerning as those noises may sound, did you know they are the cause of up to 25% of operational braking-related accidents? That’s right, faulty brakes contribute to a staggering amount of accidents, which is all the more reason to address any brake issue immediately.
If “Why are my brakes grinding?” is a question weighing on your mind, you are certainly not alone.
Why Are My Brakes Grinding?
Hearing your vehicle produce odd noises can be concerning for most, and the thought of brakes grinding can be outright terrifying. The most common sound associated with brakes grinding is comparable to two pieces of gritty metal scraping against each other, for example, a metal-on-metal noise which is certainly not accompanied by the most pleasant of sounds.
If the sound of grinding increasingly becomes evident while operating your vehicle, it most likely means it has reached a point where your brake pads have worn down to a level where their backing plates are rubbing against both the brake rotors and their metal counterparts.
Not only does this place you at risk of having the brakes failing while driving, but it can also ruin the rest of the chassis braking systems components like the rotors and calipers. Although fixing brake pads is not that difficult, failing to do it on time can cause even more problems down the line.
How Grinding Brakes Affect Stopping Power
Don’t know how a worn-down brake pad can make it harder to stop the vehicle? Allow me to explain how it works.
When you apply the brake pedal, fluid is sent to the calipers that are located on your wheels. The brake fluid makes the calipers pull the brake pads together against the brake rotors, and as the pads spin, the friction slowly and eventually stops them from moving.
If the brake pads are overly worn, the metal backing could be exposed, allowing contact between the rotors and metal while braking. This results in unpleasant sounds along with other problems like damage to your rotor, grinding responsiveness of your brakes, and ultimate brake failure.
Grinding from old brake pads and rotors is one of the many things that may negatively impact your brakes. Your vehicle may develop different sounds from the brakes during its lifespan, and it could be related to the components or not.
That is why having a complimentary brake check is imperative when your brakes begin behaving funny, so you can discover whether or not there are issues with your brakes and how serious the problem is, and what services would be necessary.
Common Causes of Noise and Vibration when Braking
The irritating grinding, rubbing, squealing, or scraping sound that disturbs you as you brake may indicate a deeper problem. Sometimes, it may not be anything of concern, and the sound will resolve on its own.
If it sticks around uninterrupted while the sound increases, it is almost certain that you have some form of a brake malfunction. Here are 9 causes of why this noise is being made by the brakes.
#1. Worn Brake Pads.
Hearing any grinding or whooshing sound from your brake pedal can indicate that there is a problem with the brake pads. With time the backing plate wears out and metal tend to slide against the metal hitting the rotor. Either the brakes caliper is worn out or the rotor itself is physically touched by the caliper.
In both instances, failure to replace old pads could result in serious consequences to the brakes. The backing plate could destroy the rotor while creating a default and scratch leading to further damage. The caliper would then experience the same situation. In case the your brake pads experience any problems, replacing them becomes a priority.
If you are noticing bad grinding noise while braking but the pads are okay, then you need to keep looking.
#2. Bad Quality Brake Pads.
Purchasing bad quality pads will only cost you so do not attempt to save money by trying to buy the cheapest one within arms reach. Cheaply made brake pads can mean the reality of escaping an accident versus competing with a totaled vehicle in which the driver facing serious injuries.
Aside from functioning correctly, cheap pads have a loose construction and comes with faults like chunks of metal fused within the pad material which would create scratches against the rotor resulting in damage.
Choosing a well-established brand for brake pads, such as Akebono, Stoptech, Wagner, EBC, Powerstop, and AC Delco, will help you save money over time.
#3. Worn Shims.
Make sure to always replace the shims during any brake job or brake pad replacement. Some shoddy mechanics may skip this step to save on time, so be sure to ask them if they will be replacing them.
Eventually, brake shims that go un-replaced will wear out. This frequently leads to a situation where some portion of the brake shim rubs against the rotor or some other metallic component of the braking system.
As metal rubs against metal like this, the braking system generates noise while you drive the vehicle. Don’t forget to replace those shims so you can avoid this issue.
#4. Debris Stuck in Brakes.
Your brake system could have externally sourced debris that is lodged within it. This debris could be a rock or piece of gravel which gets stuck in the caliper.
This will allow the debris to lay in between the rotor and the caliper and will lead to potential scraping or grinding noises along with vibration.
Even if you aren’t applying pressure on the brake pedal, these sounds will persist. If the lodged fragment rests is not removed, then the rotor may suffer damage, at minimum requiring resurfacing, and at maximum needing an entire replacement.
A piece lodged in the brakes might alter their alignment, resulting in uneven brake pad wear. In this event, efficiency will be lower, resulting in having to replace pads more quickly than anticipated.
#5. Infrequent Driving.
Under normal driving circumstances, brake pads can last approximately 30,000 to 70,000 miles. Longer driving life reduces the need for maintenance as well, and pad replacement and recalibration can be extended, especially if the brakes start giving issues early on due to insufficient driving.
Without use, rotors can gather rust as well as corrode over time if a vehicle is stored for an extended period.
Other brake system parts are prone to rust as well, leading to problems with the calipers sticking.
Due to the surface rust, the brakes of the car might create unusual sounds while trying to apply the brakes due to the rust having created bumps in certain regions. It is because of the rust being raised and smooth at the edges. Make sure to try not to let the rust build up too much.
If a little rust does form, normal driving will allow the heat from the brakes to reduce the rust. This does mean you should not let the vehicle idle for extended periods. If the rust is excessive, resurfacing the rotors will become essential.
#6. Worn Brake Rotors.
Having corroded brake rotors leads to excessive noise such as squeaking and squealing. Other noises, such as scraping come from extreme wearing off of the rotors. When brakes are applied, excess vibrations will also be produced which is generally mitigated in good rotors.
These are going to chock in a totally ugly pattern together with known as rotor pad being so much vibration breaking and your foot pedal will be stunned, freeze like a frenzy. Noticeable symptoms will include wobbling in the steering wheel and brake pedal.
It is possible to resurface (or turn) rotors, but only if the rotors are slightly warped – otherwise, it is necessary to replace the rotors completely.
#7. No Lubrication on Brake Parts.
The pads applied onto the brake must first have a shim put on the back that requires the use of a brake caliper lube so as not to make any noise.
Otherwise, when the brakes are engaged, the pad and caliper piston will rub against each other, which will result in squeaking or a rubbing noise.
Also, the brake caliper slider pins should have a substantial amount of grease applied, as it is easier to adjust the two halves of the brake caliper.
#8. Caliper Bolts.
The brake caliper bolt slides should also be given lubricant, otherwise, noise will be produced. This is less common, although still possible, but is frequent in amateur jobs.
A qualified auto mechanic ought to at least add lubricant, but in most cases, will replace them altogether.
#9. Faulty Wheel Bearings.
This is most likely the least posible reason to have brake noises. If you are hearing any grinding noise from your wheels or if you feel vibrations from your wheels which vary from loud to soft, then you might have a defective wheel bearing.
Along with the sounds, vibration in the steering wheel while driving is also expected.
Brake Grinding Situations
Three primary cases can result in the vehicle brakes grinding:
Brake Grinding When You Press On Your Brakes
If your vehicle is slowing down and you hear your brakes grinding, it is most likely because the brake pads are thin.
Brake pads have to be thick enough to perform as well as stop a vehicle effectively. Eventually, with the use of the vehicle, the brake pads will wear out.
If the pads are less than the minimum permissible thickness, they will make annoying noises every time while depressing the brake pedals. It is referred to as brake scrubbing and it means that time to change brake pads is requisite.
In case this noise is ignored, the brake pads will wear thinner, which tends to bring out a mix of squealing and grinding noise.
If you hear a serious grinding noise when braking, it likely means the brake disc and caliper are grinding against each other. It is a sound that usually accompanies a vehicle coming to a stop, although it can also be heard with the application of brakes.
For this problem to be resolved, it is best to replace the brake pads immediately. However, this might also require replacing both the discs and rotors in combination.
Brake Grinding While Driving
Hearing the brakes grinding while in motion may indicate that the caliper and rotor have stones stuck between them. If this is the case, then it is important to alleviate the problem as soon as possible. Procrastinating can result in serious damage to the brake pedal and other performance parts.
While some people might be able to clear some rocks and debris off the brakes without help, it is advisable to hire a specialist. If grinding sounds are present, the user should call a mechanic and schedule an appointment.
Brake Grinding When Your Vehicle Comes To a Sudden Stop
Another possible cause of brake grinding is sudden application of the brakes. When the brakes are applied suddenly; a grinding noise is produced and the brake pedal vibrates. With thick brake pads on the vehicle’s discs, the brake pads should be just fine and would not require replacement.
There is a higher chance that the grinding sound you noticed during a sudden stop is due to the Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) on your vehicle.
The ABS is enabled when experiencing panic stops, preventing wheel lockups and subsequent skidding of the automobile.
The system is able to remain in control and not lose stability by pumping the brakes, which is what causes the grinding sound along with a rattling sensation in the brake pedal.
When to Replace Brake Pads?
It is equally important for you to know the indicator signs when it is ideal for your vehicle’s brake pads to be replaced. Some of the indicators include the following:
- Squeaking or Squealing: A Sharp sound is often associated with the pads being worn out.
- Grinding Sounds: This is most certainly caused when the pad is worn out and most of the caliper metal is exposed, requiring an immediate change of brake pads.
- Reduced Brake Performance: When your vehicle requires more distance than normal to come to a halt or turns in one direction, brake pads should certainly be replaced.
- Visual Inspection: Replacement is required when pads reach a thickness of 1/4 inch.
- Warning Lights: Certain vehicles will notify the user when it’s time for a brake pad change.
Are you asking, how often should I replace brake pads? This depends upon your driving style, as well as the material composition of the brake pads, but it averages somewhere between 25,000 and 70,000 miles. Always check that your brake system components are functioning properly.