Front brakes binding and grinding

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).

-Tell us little more detail the problem.
-You mean it try to turn to 1 side when you brake or vibate
or very hard to brake?

Mai Lor

Hi, i would chk your rotor on the wheel your hearing the noise from. Sounds like a brake pad has worn out and is chewing your rotor. That can cause all your issues. Hope that helps

recheck brakes hard ware may also been bad , ck front wheel bearing also.

Pads may be acting as phonograph needles and "playing back" the cut pattern on the rotors. To eliminate this tendency most dealerships now use a DA sander on the rotor faces while the rotors are still turning on the lathe, to break the pattern, making it non directional. (I've been doing this on all vehicles since the 70's)
If this was not done, they will make noise. Sometimes sound deadening inserts can be placed behind pads or a liquid made for this purpose can be applied to backings. But, the first method is generally the best. Other than that, if the pads are not binding or wearing prematurely, there should be no noise.

from my experience its sounds like ur front rotors may need resurfaceing...if ur doing that...may as well replace the brakes on the front as well...sometimes glazed front brake pads may make a sound but never heard of it as a grind, usually its a squeal...have ur dealer check ur rotors for hot spots in which u would need them replaced if they are overheated..also check the front pads for cracked brake pad material

It may be caused by Disc Thickness Variation, which occurs when the pads brush the sides of an out of alignment rotor. Also, it could be that the rotors need to be resurfaced due to poor surface finish. I have also seen that when the brakes drag on the pads (DTV) that any pad dust will collect in the low spots and squeal after braking. I would recommend dropping the calipers and thoroughly cleaning the rotors and pads off with warm soapy water and a rag. I don't recommend brake cleaner or silencing sprays because they just add un-needed material to a contact surface and can actually cause noise and prevent full pad contact.

See HERE for troubleshooting information from English Brake Corp.

See HERE for Tech Questions answered from Bendix Corp.

I can also suggest checking the hub face with a roller-tipped dial indicator gauge to confirm that it doesn't have any lateral run-out. Run-out of over .002" would be out of spec.

HOPE THIS HELPS!!! Please don't forget to rate!

Thanks -

Did you check the rotors to see if they were cracked or 'thin' ? Rotors sometimes get really thin with use.And they can crack. Or as in one case that I know of there was sand between the rotor and the pads. The pads were also new. Removed the gravelly sand and they worked fine.

Good morning,
I have several questions that can lead you to a solution.
1) How many miles on the front brake pads sense they have been replaced?
2) How deeply grooved are the front brake rotors?
3) does the front brakes make a scratching or a grinding sound when the brakes are applied?

This is where I'm heading with these questions:

The front brake pads are a biscuit of break friction material applied to a steel plate.
As the braking material wears off the rotor may also wear with grooves and in the case of replacing pads without turning the rotor can present a ledge on the rotor that the plate of the brake pad can come it contact with and restrict the friction material from coming in contact with the rotor and be an effective breaking force.

Also if the pads have been replaced and the piston has become cocked in the caliper it will be jammed in the piston bore and not be free to extend and exert a pinching force on the rotor.

I suspect that if the fluid is not restricted from reaching the caliper there is a mechanical restriction in the system. Not much else to consider but those two things.

Glad to be of assistance - please rate the solution - I can learn from you. Thank you

make sure the caplipers are doing their job properly. if the calipers are not functioning properly that will cause uneven wear as well as a dragging, as in the pads are not coming off of the rotor and therefore rubbing while you're driving. also, check to see that you are getting a pad that will wear without so much rotor wear. they make pads that will absorb more wear so that you don't have to replace the rotors every time you have your brakes done. And if that doesn't work... no joke, change your braking habits. unfortunatly, to many people wait till they're at the stop sign or red light to apply the brakes instead of preparing for the known. my brakes have been on my truck (HEAVY) for 50,000 miles (hard use) and have only begun to squeak in the last 100 miles. Changed my brakes completely and my braking habits. good luck