What causes grinding brake noise?
When your car's brakes begin to protest don't wait to have them serviced
We're used to cars with efficient, powerful braking systems these days – and sometimes we take that for granted.
When we've neglected to have the car serviced properly (by a licensed workshop familiar with the car's servicing requirements), it can lead to expensive repairs further down the track. And in the case of the car's braking system, neglect could also be downright dangerous.
Be guided by service advisers when they offer their opinion that your car's brake pads need replacement. They may even recommend replacing the disc rotors as well.
The softer friction material of the pads or shoes wears at a controlled rate and will eventually wear away completely. Once this happens, the steel backing plates make contact with the disc rotors or drums. This is when the brakes begin to make a grinding noise at low speeds, or a squealing noise at higher speeds. Braking efficiency naturally fades in these circumstances.
And the parts wear prematurely too. Not only will you need to replace the pads/shoes, you will need to replace the rotors/drums as well. This is because the backing plate will leave gouge marks in the surface of the rotors and drums.
Whereas rotors or drums could and should last double the life of the pads/shoes, once they're gouged they need to be replaced. So the money you save by not changing the pads before they grind down to the steel is more than offset by the cost of replacing rotors and drums much earlier than necessary.
So be advised, once your brakes start grinding or squealing – or you feel shudder through the brake pedal (a sign of a warped brake disc) or any other unusual symptom – book the car in for an inspection with a brake service specialist, the local dealer or a nearby professional workshop.
Finally, not all brake noise is indicative of a problem. Some brake pads are specified with a high metallic content – particularly for high-performance vehicles. These 'competition' pads can be quite noisy and will squeal at low speeds. If you're uncertain as to whether the noise is 'actionable', check with your service adviser. He or she will quickly put you straight if 'they all do that'.
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