The brake system is an essential part of any vehicle. It is not allowed to operate inefficiently. Because that restriction will endanger everyone in traffic. In addition, brake failure and poor braking are the leading causes of today’s tragic accidents.
One of the signs for you to know that the brake system is having trouble is grinding noise. The following article will help you determine the cause of the grinding noise when braking but pads are fine.
Recommend Reading More:
- How Long Will A Wheel Bearing Last After It Starts Making Noise
- Brake Caliper Piston Won’t Go Back In Causes & Fixing Tips
- No Brake Fluid Coming Out When Bleeding: Causes & Fix
- Brakes Squeak When Stopping Slow – You Can Solve It
9 Causes Of Grinding Noise When Braking But Pads
Using poor quality brake pads
Although the performance of the gasket is still good, if the product you are replacing is of poor quality, it will cause noise to appear. It would help if you did not try to save money on essential car details because that’s the best way for you to ensure yourself and those around you.
When a poor-quality brake pad is put in and used, it will reduce the brake system’s performance.
In addition, these problems are also in their shortcomings. In particular, you will likely find metal fragments in the gasket material in the gasket. This debris will rub against the rotor and cause severe damage.
In addition, when you have selected good brake pads and still have noise, you will need to check their cause. One common cause of a blown head gasket, so knowing how to fix a blown head gasket is necessary. At this point, you need to repair or replace the brake pad with a new one.
Shims worn
Brake pads that are not replaced for a long time will corrode because they are in direct contact with the rotor or another metal part on the brake system.
From there, the grinding sound will appear when the metals collide with each other. At this point, you need to replace the shims to ensure the vehicle’s performance.
Debris stuck in brake
Debris trapped in the brake includes debris, rocks, gravel. When inside the brake system, the small one will be between the rotor and the caliper. Grinding noise will appear from there, and the vibration is the next phenomenon you may encounter.
In addition, when the amount of debris is high, you will hear the noise even when you do not apply the brake. After some time, the rotor will be at risk of failure due to too much debris inside. At that time, reduced engine performance is inevitable for your vehicle.
Less use of cars
Typically, a set of brake pads will be practical for 30000 to 70000 miles. But when you don’t use the car for too long, rust will appear and stick to the brake pads.
As a result, the surface of the brake pads and rotor will not be as smooth as the original due to impact rust. At this point, you will hear a grinding noise.
Worn brake rotor
A poor-quality brake rotor is when it appears warped or cracked. When it does, it will make many strange sounds. At the same time, the warped propeller will also make a creaking sound.
Also, when your rotor is too worn, it will create a lot of vibration from the brake system. These vibrations will appear when you apply the brake.
Do not lubricate the brake unit
When you install or replace brake pads, the back of the brake pads will need to be lightly lubricated using a brake caliper lubricant.
When you forget or intentionally skip this step, the metal gasket will become dry. From there, the metal piece and the piston caliper will combine and create a grinding noise when you step on the brake.
Caliper bolt
The caliper bolts need to be lubricated consistently and evenly, or they will not function properly. When the bolts are dry, it will make a squeak when you step on the brake. Over time, the bolts may be due to the lubricant setting.
Faulty wheel bearings
As for the cause of the wheel bearing failure, this is the least likely scenario. However, it would help if you did not ignore this case. Because when the wheel bearing fails, it will make a grinding sound from the wheel side, or you will feel the vibration from loud to quiet when you apply the brake.
Backing Plate Rubbing
According to the brake set structure, behind the brake rotor will be a pad. The purpose of the gasket is to protect the brake and rotor from road debris.
Sometimes, in some cases, some large foreign body can warp the pad. When it does, it will rub against the propeller and make a loud grinding noise when you drive. To fix this problem, you need to bend the pad back to its original position.
Why Should You Handle Grinding Noise?
It would help if you did not ignore grinding noise when it occurs. By that sign, your brake system is in trouble, and you need to fix it immediately. The consequences of neglecting grinding noise are worn brake pads, damaged rotors, and gauges.
From there, your car can lose its brakes at any time. You will not be able to control the vehicle during the move. That will endanger all cars going around you. No one can be sure that no tragic accident will happen when the brake system fails.
Some Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there a scraping noise when I brake?
To answer this question, you can refer to 9 common causes of grinding noise. There are 8 causes that you often encounter, and one reason is less likely to happen with the brake system. It’s the wheel-bearing fault. However, you should not overlook any detail when testing grinding noise. At this point, carb cleaner or brake cleaner might be a good choice .
Is it safe to drive with grinding brakes?
The answer is NO. It is strictly forbidden for you to drive in any way when the brake system fails. Because it will endanger all vehicles going around you.
When you detect grinding noise or inefficient braking, you need to take your car to a repair center so they can fix it in time because that’s the best way for you to keep both people and vehicles safe.
Can Low brake fluid cause grinding?
NO. Because brake fluid is the hydraulic fluid for the brake’s hydraulic system, and it has nothing to do with whether your brakes are working correctly or not. Even if your brake fluid is dirty, it doesn’t make a grinding noise.
Conclusion
Hopefully, the article will help you determine what causes grinding noise to appear when you drive or brake. There are 9 reasons that you cannot ignore when you detect grinding sounds in your car. Each original ring will correspond to a detail.
Therefore, when fixing, you should check each element in the brake system, in turn, to make sure that they are all operating stably. If you find it difficult, you can take your car to a reputable garage, and they will help you do this work.
