Brakes grinding? What it means and what to do
The short answer
A grinding, metal-on-metal noise when you brake usually means the pads have worn right down to their metal backing and are now cutting into the discs. This is the urgent one: it means the brakes are past due and every stop is doing more damage. Don't keep driving on grinding brakes, get them looked at straight away.
A squeak is a warning. A grind means that warning got ignored and the pads are gone. The longer it grinds, the more it chews up the discs, so a job that could have been a simple pad change turns into pads and discs, sometimes more.
Common causes and what they mean
A few things could be behind it. Here's what each usually points to, and how serious it is.
Pads worn down to metal
The most common cause by far. Once the friction material is used up, the metal backing plate drags on the disc and grinds. The pads need replacing now, and the discs may be damaged too.
A stone or grit trapped
A small stone caught between the pad and the disc can grind or scrape. Sometimes it works itself out, but if it stays it can score the disc, so it's worth a quick look.
Badly worn or rusted discs
Discs that are worn thin, lipped at the edge or heavily rusted after standing can grind even with decent pads. They usually need replacing as a pair.
A sticking caliper
A caliper that isn't releasing keeps the pad pressed on the disc. That wears one side out fast, overheats the brake and can grind. The caliper needs freeing off or replacing.
Loose or missing hardware
A worn shim, clip or backing plate can let parts move and rub metal on metal. Less common than worn pads, but it shows up the same way.
Is it safe to drive with grinding brakes?
No, treat grinding brakes as stop-driving. Metal on metal means the pads are gone and your stopping distance is getting worse with every mile, so it's a genuine safety risk, not just a noise. Carrying on also wrecks the discs and can damage the calipers, which turns a cheap fix into a big one. If the car is grinding, park it somewhere safe and get the brakes seen before you drive it again.
Want someone to look at it?
We come to your home or work across Soham, Ely, Newmarket and Cambridge. A photo or a ten second video of the noise is often enough to tell you what you are dealing with.
Want it looked at properly?
We come to you across Soham, Ely, Newmarket and Cambridgeshire, plug in and find the real fault, and tell you in plain English what it is and what it'll cost. A £20 call-out, no obligation.
Grinding brakes FAQs
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