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      Your concern might be complex to diagnose and may require additional equipment to pinpoint the cause. In this case, you'll receive Digital Inspection results plus a quote to perform deeper diagnostic/test procedures.
      Home / Symptoms / Brakes Grinding

      Hey, Why Is My Car Grinding When I Brake?

      If you are short on time and want to fast-track the process to professional help, click
      Four common causes for grinding brakes from a vehicle and their related parts.
      Your brakes are wearing every time you apply the brakes. When the brake pad material wears past its service limit then the backing plate of the brake pad will come into contact with the brake rotor and cause metal-to-metal contact. When the pads are down to the metal you will hear a noticeable grinding noise inside the cab every time you touch the brakes.

      Is Your Car Producing A Grinding-like Feeling When Braking?

      The grinding sounds commonly come from worn or rusty brake pads touching the rotors. Alternatively, you might also want to check the brakes for debris since that could be the case. Less commonly, the brake caliper might be damaged or misplaced and is now grinding the rotors.

      When you feel a grinding sensation while braking your car, it's a warning sign that your vehicle's safety on the road is compromised. Ignoring it could lead to dangerous consequences, so taking control and understanding the causes and solutions is essential.

      Don't let the problem escalate; consider contacting a trusted technician to inspect the brake noise. By addressing the issue promptly, you avoid costly repairs, ensure the integrity of your vehicle, and drive with peace of mind. Your safety on the road is invaluable, and regular maintenance can save you time, money, and potential headaches in the long run.

      Let's Get To The Bottom Of It!

      Is the car making a noticeable grinding sensation and noise when braking?

      You might also notice this symptom when turning left or right. In addition, the car might produce humming sounds and vibrations or even affect fuel consumption.

      The brake pads, made of friction material, are essential in braking. When applying the brakes, the friction material contacts the rotor, squeezing the caliper to slow the vehicle. But when the friction material wears out, the metal plate touches the rotor, making a grinding noise and sensation when braking. This happens when the brake pads are old and worn.

      Do you ever see smoke coming from one of the tires?

      You might also notice a spike in fuel consumption, the vehicle pulling to one side, or warning lights on the dashboard ("Check Engine" and "ABS").

      The brake caliper applies pressure to the pad, causing the friction material to contact the rotor and slow the vehicle. However, if something jams the caliper, the brake pads contact the rotor, generating extra friction and heat, eventually producing visible smoke.

      Is your emergency brake not working?

      Drum brakes use different parts to stop your wheels from turning. The brake shoes, which have a metal part and friction material, press against the drum to stop the wheel. Over time, the friction material can wear down and produce a grinding noise. The emergency brake also uses brake shoes, using a lever to push the shoes out. If the friction material is worn, the emergency brake may be unable to push the shoes far enough to touch the drum, preventing them from stopping the car.

      Is the grinding noise intermittent when you're braking the car?

      This sporadic noise might appear when turning the car or even if you're driving straight.

      The brake rotors are like big disks that the brake pads press against to stop the car. Sometimes, the rotors can pick up debris or rust, creating minor rust in the brake pads. This can make a sporadic grinding noise when you press the brakes, even if the brake pads are healthy.

      Is the grinding noise permanent even without pressing the brakes?

      You might also notice that the tires are overheating, and the car's fuel consumption is increasing. Also, the brakes might grind louder when you apply them, possibly causing vibrations.

      The brakes on your car are near the wheels and close to the road. Sometimes, road debris can jam between the brake pad and the rotor. This debris sticks out further than the brake pad, wearing down the rotor and causing a grinding noise. This noise is usually noticeable even when you're not pressing the brakes.

      Is the grinding noise more noticeable when turning the vehicle left/right?

      The grinding noise might appear even if you turn the wheel without pressing the brakes. Also, you might hear humming noises, and the vehicle may slightly pull to one side.

      The wheel bearing helps your tire stay in place and spin without wobbling. If the wheel bearing starts to fail, the wheel and hub become wobbly. Also, since the brake caliper connects to the steering knuckle, the wheel or rotor might rub against the brake caliper or brake caliper support if the wheel bearing is loose. Consequently, this causes brake grinding noises when you turn the wheel.

      Find Professional Help

      Please select your vehicle's brand and location so we can locate the best professional help for you
      If you are a shop owner and sick of business directories that are based on the cost of repair, AutoTechIQ is for you. If your customers receive Digital Inspection results then AutoTechIQ is definitely for you. Check out the certification page or how to rank in your area.

      Vehicle Health Inspection Proof

      Explore the following typical inspection results that show a potential cause for the symptom and select the one you believe is similar to your vehicle's issue.

      • Stuck brake caliper
      • Rusty brake rotors
      • Debris-ridden brake pads
      • Worn brake shoes
      • Worn brake pads
      • Faulty wheel bearing
      Stuck brake caliper causing the brake to partially apply, generating heat and vibrations on the steering wheel

      This image shows a rusty brake caliper in a rotor. In this case, the caliper constantly touches the rotor, causing overheating and damage.

      A customer noticed a strange smell and smoke coming from the left front tire of their vehicle and brought it to the shop. They also noticed that the front wheels were dirty and suspected a problem with the wheel bearing.

      When test-driving the vehicle, the technician felt a slight pull to the left after releasing the brakes; they also felt burning smells. During the vehicle health inspection, the technician saw hot spots and discoloration on the left front brake rotor and caliper.

      During additional tests, approved by the customer, the technician found resistance in the caliper piston on the left front when retracting, so it was stuck. This stuck caliper was causing extreme friction-induced heat and discoloration.

      To fix the issue, the technician recommended replacing both front calipers, rotors, and pads. A brake fluid flush was also necessary because of the heat introduced into the braking system.

      Does the issue look like this? if not accessible your shop will document it

      Typical Fixes to Address the Cause(s)

      The following chapters bases themselves on experiences from our auto repair shop; we'll describe related problems' causes and fixes.

      • "Brake Pad Replacement" fixes "Worn brake pads"

        • Brake Lining Replacement

        • Brake Lining Wear Sensors Replaced

        • Brake Rotor Replacement

          Brake Lining Replacement
          Brake caliper replacement
          Brake System Fluid Exchange
          Brake System Fluid Flush

        • Brake caliper replacement

          Axle Seal Replacement
          Brake Pad Replacement
          Brake Rotor Replacement
          Brake Shoe Replacement
          Wheel bearing replacement
          Rotor replacement
          Wheel speed sensor replacement
          Brake hose replacement
          Emergency brake cable replacement
          Brake fluid replacement
          Brake pad slides cleaned and lubed
          Brake caliper slides cleaned and lubed
          Brake line replacement
          Wheel cylinder replacement
          Brake fluid flush
          drum replacement
          Resurface drums
          Resurface rotors
          Brake cable replacement
          Brake rotors replacement
          Brake drum replacement
          Hand torque wheel lug nuts in a star pattern
          Brake hardware replacement

        • Brake System Fluid Exchange

        • Brake System Fluid Flush

        • Brake Shoe Replacement

        • Wheel bearing replacement

          Brake Pad Replacement
          Brake caliper replacement
          Brake Shoe Replacement
          Tire replacement
          Rotor replacement
          Brake hose replacement
          Wheel cylinder replacement
          Brake fluid flush
          drum replacement
          Resurface drums
          Resurface rotors
          Brake cable replacement

        • Brake fluid exchange

        • Rotor replacement

          Brake Rotor Replacement

        • Wheel bearing repack

        • Brake hose replacement

          Axle Seal Replacement
          Brake Pad Replacement
          Brake Rotor Replacement
          Brake caliper replacement
          Brake Shoe Replacement
          Wheel speed sensor replacement
          Wiring harness repair or replacement
          Anti-lock brake module replacement
          Emergency brake cable replacement
          Brake fluid replacement
          Brake pad slides cleaned and lubed
          Brake caliper slides cleaned and lubed
          Brake line replacement
          Wheel cylinder replacement
          Brake drum replacement
          Brake hardware replacement
          Anti-lock brake motor replacement
          Brake system flush

        • Wheel cylinder replacement

        • Brake fluid flush

        • drum replacement

        • Resurface drums

        • Resurface rotors

        • Brake cable replacement

        • Brake shoes replacement

          Brake Pad Replacement
          Brake caliper replacement
          Wheel bearing replacement
          Rotor replacement
          Brake hose replacement
          Wheel cylinder replacement
          Brake fluid flush
          drum replacement
          Resurface drums
          Resurface rotors
          Brake cable replacement
          brake pads replaced

        • Brake rotors replacement

          Brake Pad Replacement
          Brake caliper replacement
          Brake Shoe Replacement
          Wheel bearing replacement
          Rotor replacement
          Brake hose replacement
          Wheel cylinder replacement
          Brake fluid flush
          drum replacement
          Resurface drums
          Resurface rotors
          Brake cable replacement

        • Brake drum replacement

        • Hand torque wheel lug nuts in a star pattern

        The AutoTechIQ ranking for Safety, Cost Avoidance, and Environmental Impact is

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      • "Brake caliper replacement" fixes "Stuck brake caliper"

      • "Brake shoes replacement" fixes "Worn brake shoes"

      • "Brake rotors replacement" fixes "Rusty brake rotors"

      • "Brake pad debris removal" fixes "Debris-ridden brake pads"

      • "Wheel bearing replacement" fixes "Faulty wheel bearing"

      Sometimes a problem is more challenging to describe than it initially looked like. If you are not sure your problem is described by this article, please find below similar vehicle symptoms, which might describe better the issue you are experiencing.

      Vehicle Symptoms

      Below are just a few examples of typical Symptoms and Fixes your car might be experiencing

      Four common causes for weird braking from a vehicle and their related parts.

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      Hey, Why Is My Car's Engine Sputtering?

      The engine is sputtering because of a faulty fuel pump or mechanical f...
      Four common causes for a vehicle steering wheel shaking and their related parts.

      Hey, Why Is My Car's Steering Wheel Shaking?

      The steering wheel is shaking because of bad suspension tirerelated is...
      Four common causes for transmission slipping from the vehicle and their related parts.

      Hey, Why Is My Car's Transmission Slipping?

      The transmission feels like slipping because its fluid level is low Ho...
      Four common causes for brake vibrations from the vehicle and their related parts.

      Hey, Why Does My Car Shake When I Brake?

      Your car is shaking while braking because of wheelrelated issues warpe...
      Four common causes for vehicle overheating and their related parts.

      Hey, Why is My Car Overheating?

      An overheating car sends obvious signs of danger steam from the hood f...
      Four common causes for vehicle stuck brake pads and their related parts.

      Hey, Why Is My Car's Brake Pad Sticking?

      The brake pad is possibly getting stuck because the caliper piston is ...
      Four common causes for the vehicle struggling to start in the cold and related parts.

      Hey, Why Does My Car Struggle To Start When Its Engine Is Cold?

      The engine struggles to start in the cold because of the battery In th...
      Four common causes for the vehicle accelerating badly and their related parts.

      Hey, Why Is My Car Not Accelerating?

      Your car isnrsquot accelerating because it has a low fuel flow A clogg...
      Four common causes for the vehicle jerking when accelerating and their related parts.

      Hey, Why Does My Car Jerk When Accelerating?

      The car jerks when its not getting enough air or fuel or if therersquo...
      Four common causes for the vehicle stuck on “Park” mode and their related parts.

      Hey, Why Won't My Car Shift Out Of "Park"?

      It wonrsquot shift because the shift interlock is damaged the shifter ...

      Typical Fixes Pages