Noise from brakes

[SylvieD]

Could anyone confirm that a strange squealing noise from brakes mean the pads need replaced?  There is also sometimes a kind of grinding noise from the back when I brake.  If the pads do need replace is it an easy job to do at home or does it mean a trip to the garage?

[andy hughes]

Squealing can indicate dust on the brake pads, but the grinding does indicate wear and tear and replacement required. I would be inclined to take your car to a garage if you are not absolutely sure what you are doing - you can't afford to botch a job where brakes are involved. It's not that expensive - ring around a few places for a quote - and have the peace of mind when you are driving.

[MORELLO]

A squealing noise usually just indicates brake dust between the pad and disc, and which can be cleaned out by stripping them down and rebuilding, or simply with a jet wash hose or compressed air. The grinding at the back does unfortunately mean replacement parts are needed. The noise is the metal backing plate of the pad/shoe (whose lining has completely worn) making contact with the disc/drum. If you're lucky, you may get away with just replacing the pads/shoes. Usually though, depending on how long it's been happening, the plate will have worn grooves into the disc/drum. These grooves will destroy any new pads/shoes and also greatly decrease the efficiency of the disc/drum itself. Depending on the car, pads/shoes and discs/drums are easy enough to change - some Fords and Vauxhalls are simple, whilst some Toyotas and Audis for example are not. Take it to National for a free brake check. The front ones may also be worn. There's a minimum thickness required of both discs and pads/shoes and drums, front and back. They're also reasonably priced. Stay away from Kwik-Fit!

[GeordieSteve]

Yep your pads are VERY worn. Get them sorted ASAP before you do any more damage to your disks (or kill yourself of course). Get someone else to do them though... if you had to ask this question then there's no way you should attempt it. If it goes wrong it goes VERY wrong

[starship]

I got this noise before after getting a service. It turned out that the garage had put a faulty brake pad in. The noise went away after I got the brake pad replaced.

[Ewood27]

Some cars have a piece of wire built into the brake pads precisely to make them squeal when they are well worn.  Your squealing noise could be just that, in which case you need new pads but haven't damaged anything.  I don't like the sound of the grinding noise though.  I agree, get things checked by someone who knows.  You can't afford to take chances with brakes.

[KebabMeister]

Most brake pads are fitted with a 'squeal shim' which alerts the driver that the pads are becoming worn.  It's basically a metal that comes into contact with the disc and makes a noise.  Other forms of noise can come from the following:

The pads moving in the calipers - put copper grease on the edges of the pads were in comes into contact with the calipers.

 

Heavily corroded discs edges coming into contact with the pads or the callipers.

 

Pads completely worn out and 'metal to metal' on contact with the discs.

 

Rear brake noise as Morello said.