Why Are My Brakes Grinding?

It’s a typical day as you drive around Tinley Park in your Nissan car, truck, or SUV. You press the brake pedal and hear something different, with a metal-on-metal noise. That’s not the best sound coming from your vehicle. However, it’s somewhat normal if you drive enough without replacing the brakes. If your brakes are making a grinding noise, bring your vehicle in for service. The cause might not be immediately obvious. However, brakes are a major safety component of your vehicle and you need to get them checked as soon as possible. 

We highly recommend not putting off your next brake repair. Brake repairs can be expensive. But they are necessary. Unfortunately, brakes are not covered by your warranty because they naturally wear down over time. Further, the National Highway Safety Administration has found that faulty brakes are a factor in 25% of all traffic accidents. 

Don’t take chances with brakes. Get them examined by experts as soon as possible. Discover why your brakes are grinding with our guide. While we can’t guarantee that the repairs will be cheap, there is one way to prevent grinding brakes from happening. Regular inspections can pinpoint when your brakes need replacing before it becomes critical.

Why Are My Brakes Grinding When Stopping?

You must notice when your brakes are making grinding noises. There are a few main reasons why you hear your brakes grinding when stopping. Let’s delve into the answer to “Why are my brakes grinding?”

See the details as to why brakes make a grinding noise when stopping.

1. Brake Pads Naturally Wearing Out

If you hear the grinding sound when stopping or slowing down, your brake pads are probably the reason why. We see this all the time, and they are the most common reason why brakes make a grinding noise. Brake pads lose their thickness over time naturally due to friction. The signs of wear begin when they make a squealing noise when they first show signs of wear, known as brake scrubbing. 

This is 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, it will turn into a worse problem when squealing becomes grinding. When you hear the brakes grinding when stopping, it’s time for service.

1. Brake Discs & Calipers Naturally Wearing Down

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, meaning all of the brake parts are working correctly. This sharper grinding noise may also cause vibrations in your brake pedal with this issue. You’ll probably need a brake disc or rotor replacement to fix this problem. 

We highly encourage you to get this problem examined as soon as possible because it could lead to more problems with your entire braking system.

1. Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) Becoming Faulty

If you hear brakes grinding when stopping at full force and 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 Mokena, it could indicate rocks and debris bouncing off the caliper and rotor. This is a relatively easy fix, but you should resolve this quickly to prevent further damage if the debris bangs around too much. The debris might shift to other components to cause damage.

You can remove the debris yourself if you have experience with brake systems. However, you might prefer to leave brake repairs to our service department. 

Schedule Quality Brake Service in Orland Park

Looking for the answer to the question, “Why are my brakes grinding?” The only way to find out is for a team of brake experts to examine what’s going on with your brakes. Contact us, call 708-942-1040, or schedule a service appointment with our team. We’re happy to help in any way we can!