My seat Alhambra is making a grinding noise when braking and when driving slow I have replaced brake discs berins and pads

A grinding or rumbling noise can also be symptoms of a wheel bearing or constant velocity joint in a driveshaft. A worn wheel bearing can also cause a 'whistling' sound (as can a worn CV joint).

A grinding noise with brakes is either worn pads causing metal to metal contact on the brake disk/rotor, or the brake backing plate catching on a spinning rotor ... or a loose/missing anti squeal brake shim (they stop the pads from rattling and vibrating).

However, as you say a mechanic has looked at the brakes and can't find anything wrong .. I think I would begin to suspect a wheel bearing or constant velocity joint on the driveshaft (front wheel drive cars).

There could be a couple of things with this. one simple answer is yes it will or could make a grinding noise while driving and using the brakes.
There could be (possibly) a small rock or dirt in and around the caliper and pads.
Most brake pads come with a clip that when the pads where down it makes a squealing noise, that is an indicator that your pads are wearing down. Best bet, if you have the capabilities, is to remove either one or both of the front wheels and visually inspect the pads and rotors.

Hi Julie, Check the back plates behind the discs. Some times after working on the brakes the back plates are bent and cause the sound you're reporting. The ABS rotors, if correct should not come into contact with the sensors. Are the brakes efficient when applied? If not make sure they have been installed the correct way around. I have known mechanics to fit them with the metal part of the pad rubbing onto the disc! Anything is possible. Regards John

Hello and welcome to FixYa!
As a first course of action, I strongly suggest that you check or replace the brake pads. If they are worn out, it tends to have metal to metal contact which can cause grinding sound.
Hope this helps and thank you for using FixYa! Have a good one!

Hi :) There is a tab of steel on a brake pad that sqeals when the pad is getting low on thickness to let you Know it is time to change the brake pads and only sqeals at low speeds Have the brake checked out by a Mechanic.This tab is only on disc brakes not drums.

Usually a grinding noise in a disc brake is caused from a rotor with a raised edge that froms from normal wear. The raised edge is not a big deal until you install NEW disc brake pads. All of the sudden you have a grinding noise everytime you apply the brake because the NEW disc pad is being ground down but the raised surface created from the OLD Disc Brake Pad. Most of the time the Brake repair shops turn rotors on the car when the pads are replaced and this grinding symptom does not manifest itself.

On and OLD set of disc brake pads over time that raised area on the rotor starts to flake / rust / corrode and can come in contact with the brake disc pad when the brakes are applied.


Hope this explains it well enough.

Thanks for using FixYa.

The problem described here indicates that you may have the AWD (full time 4WD) drivetrain of the 2003 Element.

It is normal to have 1 side of the vehicle to have increased wear due to the transmission differential, that allows your vehicle's wheels to move at different speeds from the others (turning, inclines, etc.)

Your brake pads really need constant inspection and possible replacement (approx 5,000 miles) with everyday driving, and is really a consumable item like your fuel.

You will find that it is much cheaper to replace the brake pad/lining of your disc brakes than grinding down the supposedly shiny discs that slow down your vehicle.

RE: salt/snow, you can improve your discs' longevity by rinsing them out with warm water after being driven in extreme conditions.

Hope this helps.

Ok, it could be a few things, 1. bad break caliper. 2. if you have ceramic breaks, it could be a cracked brake pad, and if they are not ceramic they can still be cracked. 3. if you drive a lot then it could be that you need new breaks again.. 4. also have your back breaks checked along with the front ones..

It sounds like the rear calipers are bad. Raise the rear wheels and see if you can turn the tires. If you can't, open the bleeder. If you still can't replace the caliper. If you can turn the wheel after you open the bleeder, replace the brake hose to that wheel.