Are Your Brakes Grinding, Squealing, Or Rattling?: Updated 2024

Updated at: 05-04-2022 - By: micdot

Your car’s brakes are the most critical safety feature. Don’t ignore the grinding if you detect it. Enabling the situation to go worse only invites harm! This author has been thoroughly vetted and is qualified to write about this subject matter. Learn more about us by visiting our website’s “About Us” page. ‘Onomatopoeia,’ in case you didn’t know, is a term that when uttered makes a similar sound to its own name.Achoo, bang, boom, buzz, and bark are a few examples.

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When your car’s brakes develop an onomatopoeia, what happens?

You Are Watching: Are Your Brakes Grinding, Squealing, Or Rattling? Updated 04/2024

Is your car’s brake system grinding? The solution is right here, so take a look!

Grinds in the brakes can be caused by a variety of factors. Typical causes include brake pads that are worn or of poor quality, broken rotors, and an absence of brake lubricant. If you hear grinding noises coming from your brakes, you should have them checked out as soon as possible. If you don’t, you’ll increase the risk of an accident. We’ve got some excellent news for you, as this tutorial will cover all you need to know about grinding brakes. To begin, let’s have a look at the various noises that your brakes can make. After that, we’ll go over the six most common causes of brake grinding and how to solve them.

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Are Your Brakes Grinding, Squealing, Or Rattling?

If you’ve never been the target of curious onlookers because of your car’s loud brakes, consider yourself lucky. But they’re also a danger to themselves and others. Faulty brakes caused 22% of all reported incidents between 2005 and 2007, according to a 2015 NHTSA assessment. Fortunately, the sound they make helps pinpoint the source of the problem. Rattling, for example, can be compared to the sound of a spray can being shaken. This is a common sign of heat expansion in your brake pads. The improper ones could possibly be the cause of the problem you’re having with your vehicle.

Another onomatopoeia is squealing, which is probably the most obnoxious. As unpleasant as it seems to hear your rotors squeal, you may simply have water on them, which is a simple fix. A more serious problem, such worn brake pads, could also be at blame. Finally, you’ll hear grinding, which is the most distressing sound. Why? Due to the fact that it almost usually necessitates pricey repair work. The most common causes of brake grinding will be addressed in the following paragraphs, which is a relief.

The Top 6 Reasons Behind Grinding Brakes

Here Are 5 Reasons Your Brakes Are Grinding

Reason #1: Your Brake Pads Are Worn

It is common for brake pads to be comprised of a combination of graphite, steel, copper, and brass. They are, in case you didn’t know, the components that squeeze against the rotors and cause the friction that slows the wheel’s revolution. It’s likely that the cushioning on your brake pads is nearly completely gone if they are worn and haven’t been changed in 25,000 to 60,000 miles. This can cause the rotor to grind against the metal below, resulting in a high-pitched sound. It’s not difficult to replace your brake pads on your own, but it does take some time. If you decide to hire someone to do it for you, be prepared to shell out up to $300 each axle.

Reason #2: A Rotor Need To Be Replaced

The gleaming metal discs wedged in between your wheel’s spokes are an example of this. The calipers squeeze the brake pads against them, causing the car to slow down. The fact that they are so close to the earth means that they are more likely to rust or deform. Fortunately, they can endure for up to 70,000 miles if you take good care of them. Using a brake cleaner and washing them well once a month is a dependable method. There’s a good probability they’ll make a grinding sound if they start to rust. The cost to replace the rotors on each axle is approximately $400. Fortunately, you may just have to spend $10 to $20 per rotor to have them resurfaced, which will eliminate the need for grinding.

Reason #3: Your Brake Pads Are Low Quality

Although saving a few cents here and there is wonderful, it’s usually a bad idea when it comes to purchasing brake pads. Generally speaking, when you pay less, you get inferior products. As a result, they may initially appear to be less expensive, but in the long run they will require more frequent repairs or replacements. As a result, lower quality brake pads tend to be noisier than their more expensive counterparts. What’s the solution to this? If you’ve already placed low-quality pads, the only practical option is to either replace them or accept the consequences. It’s possible that you only need to have your discs resurfaced if you hear a screeching sound rather than a grinding noise.

Reason #4: The Brake System Needs Lubricating

Can you imagine completing a marathon without any hydration? Your car’s brakes are no different. Eventually, if they don’t get enough lubrication, they’ll start making a grinding sound. In most cases, the caliper nuts are to blame for keeping the caliper firmly in place. They can make a grinding noise if they rust. While it’s possible to change them yourself for a reasonable price, you may find it more convenient to have a shop handle it. Lubricate them at least once a month to keep this from becoming a problem.

Reason #5: You May Have A Faulty Wheel Bearing

It is the wheel bearings that allow your wheels to spin without overheating for miles on end. As a result, the grinding sound can be heard when one of them has a problem or if there is debris in it. Your automobile may also be vibrating, rising to a high pitch before settling back down again. Running over a rumble strip on the side of the road may feel similar to this. Additionally, if you see uneven tire wear, that’s another telltale sign. Fortunately, problems with wheel bearings are rare, as they typically last between 75,000 and 100,000 miles. When this happens, expect to pay up to $700 for a repair company to do so.

Reason #6: Your Car Has Been In Storage

Got Grinding Brakes? Here's How You Fix It [Simple Explanation]

Lack of use is the obvious culprit here. If your automobile has been sitting for a while and you’ve just begun driving it again, the brakes may grind.

Why?

Because it may have rust issues if it’s been stored incorrectly. Thanks to your regular monthly drive around the block, this shouldn’t be an issue for you. While the vehicle is parked, you can do your share to avoid rust. Use a car cover, park on a tarp, or remove your wheels and wrap the exposed rotors in plastic bags as a few alternatives.