Why Are My Brakes Grinding?

It’s never a good sign when your car starts making an unfamiliar noise while you’re driving in Bethlehem. If you hear a noise that sounds like grinding metal when you apply the brakes, it will lead you to wonder, “Why are my brakes grinding?” When brakes make a grinding noise, it indicates a problem within the brake system that needs to be addressed.

You might wonder if you can put off scheduling brake service until it’s convenient for you, but this is not recommended. Consider this: the National Highway Safety Administration reports that faulty brakes play a role in up to 25% of road accidents. That said, if you hear your brakes making a grinding noise, don’t wait to schedule a service appointment.

Brakes Grinding When Stopping: What Does it Mean?

You may be able to determine what component of the brake system is causing issues by noticing when you hear the brakes making a grinding noise. For instance, if you only hear the brakes grinding when stopping, it could tie into one of these reasons:

• If the brakes are grinding when you’re coming to a full stop, you may be dealing with a brake pad problem. Brake pads wear down over time. At first, the wear causes a squealing noise, which is also called “brake scrubbing.” Eventually, the brake pads wear down even further and you’ll start to hear the grinding sound instead of squealing. At this point, you’re long overdue for brake pad replacement.
• Do you hear the brakes grinding when stopping, but the sound has a sharper quality? If the sound is accompanied by a rumbling in the brake pedal, it’s probably a problem with the brake disc and calipers. In this instance, you may need to replace not only the brake pads, but also the disc or rotor.
• Do you hear the brakes making a grinding noise when you pull a sudden full-force stop? It may just be your Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) springing into action. The ABS activates when you stop at full force to prevent the wheels from locking up, and it can certainly cause a noticeable sound and even vibrations in the brake pedal.

What if You Hear the Brakes Grinding When Driving?

Do you hear noises coming from the brakes when you’re not actually using them? If you can hear the brakes grinding when driving in Lexington, the culprit might be road debris that got into the brake system. Large debris, like stones, could bounce off the caliper and rotor while you drive, causing a grinding noise. If you schedule service without delay, your service tech should be able to remove the debris before it causes extensive damage to the brake system.

Schedule Brake Service at Hughes Subaru

Whether you hear your brakes grinding when driving or when stopping, your safety on the Danielsville roads depends on you scheduling service as soon as possible. When customers come to Hughes Subaru asking, “Why are my brakes grinding?” our service techs are ready to help. We will inspect your vehicle, find the problem, and fix it for a fair price. So don’t wait any longer, schedule brake service today!