Why Are My Brakes Grinding?

You’re driving along your normal Williamstown streets. As you press the brake pedal, you hear a metal-on-metal noise. That’s not the best sound coming from your vehicle. If your brakes are making a grinding noise, you’ll need to bring your car in for service because the cause might not be immediately obvious. However, brakes are a major safety component of your vehicle. We highly recommend not putting off your next brake repair. Brake noises are rarely subtle, and some repairs can be expensive.

Nor are brakes covered by your vehicle’s warranty because they naturally wear down over time. The National Highway Safety Administration has found that faulty brakes are a factor in 25% of all traffic accidents. Don’t take chances with your safety or the safety of your family. You’ll need to get the brakes examined as soon as possible. Discover why your brakes are grinding with our guide.

Why Are My Brakes Grinding When Stopping?

The key here is to notice when your brakes are making grinding noises. Unfortunately, there could be several reasons why you hear your brakes grinding when stopping. Let’s delve into the answer to “Why are my brakes grinding?”

These are the three main reasons why brakes make a grinding noise when stopping.

Brake Pads

If you hear the grinding sound when stopping or slowing down, your brake pads are probably the reason why. Brake pads lose their thickness over time due to friction, and they start making a squealing noise when they first show signs of wear, known as brake scrubbing. It’s normal as your brakes wear down over time. When you hear noises coming from brakes grinding, you need to get it looked at right away. As the brake pads wear down further, the squealing noise turns into a grinding noise that gets worse, turning it into a worse problem. When you hear the brakes grinding when stopping, it’s time for service.

Brake Discs & Calipers

If you hear a sharper grinding noise as the problem of brake grinding progresses, it could be your brake disc and calipers. The calipers squeeze against the brake discs to cause the wheel to stop turning due to friction. This sharper grinding noise may also cause vibrations in your brake pedal. You’ll probably need a brake disc or rotor replacement to fix this problem.

Get this looked at as soon as possible because it could lead to problems with your entire braking system.

Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)

If you hear brakes grinding when stopping at full force when slamming on the brakes, it could be your Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS). This system activates if you apply the full brakes at full pressure. It may even cause vibrations in the pedal. Look at this problem as soon as possible.

Why Are My Brakes Grinding When Driving?

If your brakes are making a grinding noise when driving in and around Sicklerville, it might be a sign of rocks and debris bouncing off the caliper and rotor. You’ll have a relatively easy fix with this brake grinding noise. Resolve this quickly to prevent further damage if the debris bangs around too much. If this debris, commonly pebbles or dirt, gets caught in something, it might damage a component of your braking system. 

You can remove the debris yourself if you have experience with brake systems. However, you might prefer to leave brake repairs to our expert service department. We’d be happy to take a look at your brakes as they naturally wear down over time.

Schedule Brake Service in Turnersville

Looking for the precise answer to the question, “Why are my brakes grinding?” The only way to know is for brake experts to examine your brake systems. Contact us, call (856) 672-5049, or schedule a service appointment with our team. We’re happy to help in any way we can to make your Mullica Hill drives better.