Brakes Grinding: Causes & What To Do About It

Your car makes a lot of noises, but not all of them are normal. Most Charlotte drivers know that if they hear their brakes making a grinding noise, there’s trouble afoot. When it happens, though, many are left to wonder, “Why are my brakes grinding?” Recognizing the unpleasant sound of brakes grinding is easy, but identifying the problem that’s causing it can be difficult.

Making time in your schedule for brake service may be inconvenient, but it shouldn’t be delayed. Take it from the National Highway Safety Administration, which reported that failing brakes could factor into up to 25 percent of all road accidents. With that said, let’s review some of the most common causes of brakes grinding.

Reasons for Brakes Grinding When Stopping

Part of identifying why your brakes are making a grinding noise is paying attention to when it happens. If you’re out in Pineville and hear your brakes grinding when stopping, here are the most common culprits:

• If you don’t hear the brakes making a grinding noise until you’re slowing down or stopping, it’s likely the brake pads causing the problem. Brake pads slowly lose their thickness until they get so thin that they need to be replaced. Initially, you’ll hear more of a squealing noise that’s known as brake scrubbing. Eventually, the squealing will turn into a grinding noise, at which point the pads are thin enough to be replaced.
• Does the grinding noise have a sharper quality to it? This could point to a problem with the brake disc and calipers. You might also feel a rumble in the brake pedal. In this instance, you should replace the brake pads as well as the disc or rotor—your service tech will know exactly what needs to be done.
• If you hear the brakes grinding when you hit the brakes for a full-force stop, it’s probably the Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS). The ABS activates to help with vehicle stability when the full brakes are applied, and it’s often accompanied by a vibration in the brake pedal.

Why Are My Brakes Grinding When Driving?

It might sound counterintuitive, but sometimes, your brakes can make a grinding noise when you’re not actually stopping. If you hear the grinding while you’re driving along in Concord, there might be rocks and debris kicking around the caliper and rotor. Fixing this issue is as easy as removing all the debris, but you shouldn’t wait very long to get it done as it can eventually damage the brake components. If you don’t feel comfortable attempting to remove the debris on your own, our service department will be happy to help.

Keep Up with Brake Service at Hendrick Cadillac Monroe

Put a stop to your brakes grinding once and for all with a service visit at Hendrick Cadillac Monroe. Our technicians are expertly trained to handle all manner of brake service, and our service department provides a rotating selection of specials and coupons that can help keep maintenance costs low. If you have any other brake service questions, like how to bleed brakes, please contact us or call us at (704) 317-8289.