You’ve been driving your car for miles without a problem, and then you suddenly hear grinding noises when you press on your brake pedal. But the brake is still working fine when you need to slow down the car or stop it. Is the grinding noise something you should worry about?
How long can you drive with grinding brakes? Depending on the severity of the damage, it’s possible to drive the car for a while before the brakes completely wear down. However, this isn’t advisable for two reasons:
- It’s not safe.
- Driving on grinding brakes will only make the issue worse and increase the cost of repair.
It’s always a good idea to get your car serviced and fixed when you notice an issue with its brakes or any other part. When it comes to brakes, the problem cannot repair itself; it will only get worse. This article will explain why you should address your brakes as soon as possible after you notice a grinding noise.
How Long Can You Drive with Grinding Brakes?
You never know when you’ll experience car trouble. One day you’re enjoying a smooth driving experience, and the next, you’re hearing grinding noises in your brakes. When something like this happens, and you haven’t budgeted for it, it can be tempting to wait out the problem until you have money to fix it.
However, waiting is not a good idea. While grinding brakes may work for some time if the damage isn’t severe, driving the vehicle in this state only makes the situation worse.
According to Axle Addict, the grinding noise your brakes make is caused by a lack of pad material in the brakes. As a result, the rotors and pads become metal against metal with no braking material left between them.
When this happens, you must replace the brake pads as soon as possible. Failure to do so will only increase your replacement costs because every time you step on your brake pedal, you’re causing more damage to the calipers, pads, and rotors, which are not cheap to replace. So, it’s far better to fix a small issue before it becomes a large problem.
How to Troubleshoot Grinding Brakes
Cars make lots of noise, especially if you’ve had them for a long time and the parts are getting old. In such a situation, it can be easy to confuse another noise with grinding brakes. For this reason, you need to know how to tell when your brakes are grinding and when they are not.
So how do you go about it? It’s simple. If you hear a grinding sound in your brakes when you’re not driving the car, chances are your brakes are not damaged. The noise could be coming from a stuck piece of gravel in your brakes.
You should be alarmed if the grinding sound happens when you’re trying to stop or slow down the vehicle by stepping on the brake pedal. When this happens, it’s a sign that your brake pads have worn down, and you need to have them replaced immediately.
How Much Does It Cost to Fix Grinding Brakes?
The cost will depend on the total amount of damage to your brakes. If all you need is a brake pad replacement, it’s going to be way cheaper than if you need to replace everything from the calipers to the rotors.
If all you need is a brake repair job, you should expect to spend anywhere between $300 to $800 depending on your vehicle model and other factors. The price can go above $1000 if you need the entire brake system fixed.
However, these prices vary from one mechanic to another. So be sure to research and find the best offer.
What Causes Grinding Brakes?
There are several reasons why brakes would start making a grinding noise. Sometimes, it can even be because of a combination of reasons. Nonetheless, it’s crucial to know these causes so that you can keep your vehicle in tip-top condition.
1. Not Driving the Car for a Long Time
If you’ve had your car in storage for a long time, chances are some parts will begin rusting, especially if the storage conditions are not optimal. One of the car components that is susceptible to rusting is the brakes. When the rust spreads to the brake pads, you’ll hear a grinding sound when you step on your brake pedals.
Car Bibles suggests driving your vehicle for short distances once in a while before taking it back to storage. This reduces the rust and keeps your car in good condition.
2. Worn Out Brake Pads
One of the most common causes of squeaking and grinding noises in your brakes is worn-out brake pads. This happens over time as the brake pads keep coming into contact with the rotors and calipers.
The more you drive your car, the more your brake pads wear out. For this reason, it’s advisable to replace your brake pads every 20,000 miles. Otherwise, you may have to deal with a much bigger problem in the future.
3. Insufficient Lubrication
Moving parts of a vehicle have to be well-lubricated to function correctly. The brakes are not an exception. Failure to lubricate the caliper bolts will make the brakes emit a grinding sound even if other car parts have enough lubrication.
Fortunately, this is one of the low-cost fixes. All your mechanic needs to do is to replace the bolts and lubricate them, and you’re good to go. However, this will only fix the grinding sound if the cause of the problem is insufficient lubrication.
4. Poor Quality Brake Pads
According to Car From Japan, the other cause of grinding brakes is low-quality brake parts. Most people think buying low-quality brake pads will save them some money, but that’s not the case. Considering how fast they wear down, you’ll end up spending more money in the end.
Poor quality brake pads also contain metal chunks that continuously rub on the rotors, causing substantial damages. Therefore, when you’re planning to have your brake pads replaced, it’s best to stick to renowned brands. Also, don’t hold back from spending more on quality brake pads, you’ll be glad you did.
5. Obstructions
It’s not unusual for rocks, dirt, and grime to get between the rotor and caliper. When this happens, the friction of these foreign objects causes a grinding sound even when you’re not driving the vehicle.
It’s essential to have the problem fixed as soon as you notice it because the constant friction from rocks and other foreign objects can damage the rotor and calipers.
6. Worn Out Shims
Another cause of grinding brakes is broken shims. When a shim wears out and breaks off, the metal may come in contact with another part of your brake system such as the rotor. This metal to metal contact causes the grinding noises you hear.
Therefore, it’s best to have your shims replaced every time you have your brakes fixed to avoid this problem. But don’t assume the mechanic will do it. Sometimes they want to get the job done in a hurry and won’t automatically replace your shims. Make sure to tell the mechanic that you want your shims replaced, as well.
In Conclusion
Driving a vehicle with compromised brakes is never a good idea. You not only risk your life but also more damage to your car and the life of other people on the road, which isn’t worth it. Therefore, when you start hearing those grinding noises, seek out a mechanic as soon as possible. You’ll be glad you did.