Grinding noise while braking

[displacedTexan]

My car just started making a rhythmic grinding noise while braking firmly. From inside the cabin it sounds like it's coming from the front driver side. The noise definitely is tied to braking. When braking, there's no noise until I press firmly on the brake pedal. It gets more quiet and goes away as I let off the brake pedal. The noise also slows down as the car comes to a stop.

I took the front wheels off and inspected the brakes/rotors and didn't see anything that looks broken. Anybody have an idea what this could be? Warped rotor, maybe? I'm parking the car in the garage until the weekend when I'll have more time to focus on fixing it.

You can hear the noise clearly in the video below as I come to a stop in the first 10 seconds.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBx7_eUeVBM&[/ame]

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by displacedTexan

My car just started making a rhythmic grinding noise while braking firmly.

Sounds like rotor to me. I've had badly out of round tires make similar noise while braking.

[solidONE]

Might be slight warpage of the rotors. Car is totaled. j/k

If you can measure the runout on the rotor you can see if the rotors need replacing.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by displacedTexan

My car just started making a rhythmic grinding noise while braking firmly. From inside the cabin it sounds like it's coming from the front driver side. The noise definitely is tied to braking. When braking, there's no noise until I press firmly on the brake pedal. It gets more quiet and goes away as I let off the brake pedal. The noise also slows down as the car comes to a stop.

I took the front wheels off and inspected the brakes/rotors and didn't see anything that looks broken. Anybody have an idea what this could be? Warped rotor, maybe? I'm parking the car in the garage until the weekend when I'll have more time to focus on fixing it.

You can hear the noise clearly in the video below as I come to a stop in the first 10 seconds.

Do you feel it in the steering wheel, or in your butt? It can be tricky to identify the source of the noise.

[displacedTexan]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Do you feel it in the steering wheel, or in your butt? It can be tricky to identify the source of the noise.

The car isn't pulling left or right while braking. There's no difference in the steering feel now that this noise has shown up. My best guess was that it's coming from the front driver side because it's noticeably louder in my left ear and sounds like it's forward of me in the car.

Can't say that I feel it in my butt.

I switched the front wheels and torqued to spec in a star pattern to see if there was any affect on the noise. No change.

[humfrz]

Yep, I'll go along with the warped rotor theory.

I'd suggest you take your car to a brake shop and have them replace the front two rotors, at a minimum.


humfrz

[Mr.ac]

........ oh boy.
Your inner brake pad is gone. You need new pads. Turn those rotors or get new ones.
Simple shit.

[displacedTexan]

Originally Posted by Mr.ac

........ oh boy.
Your inner brake pad is gone. You need new pads. Turn those rotors or get new ones.
Simple shit.

I didn't check the depth of the compound on the pads when I inspected them (should have), but the inner pads were by no means gone. Still had a lot of compound on the pads.

[Spuds]

Alright, gotta ask if anything has happened in the last month or two? Car up on a lift for any reason? Any mods or maintenance? Heavy braking followed by a stop? Unusual tire wear?

Also, I would not assume it's the fronts because of the sound. Sound does weird things in an oddly-shaped metal box. I would check out the rears as well.

It's possible that a caliper has seized (or at least gotten sticky) heating up one or more pads to the point where, when you stop, the pad material sticks to the rotor and creates an uneven film. If it's bad, you can feel the heat coming off the problem wheel after you've parked.

[Mr.ac]

Originally Posted by displacedTexan

I didn't check the depth of the compound on the pads when I inspected them (should have), but the inner pads were by no means gone. Still had a lot of compound on the pads.

Yep. But only on one side. You'll know when you pop the pads off.

Unless it's totally unrelated to brakes. But eh, who knows, until you start unbolting stuff.

[displacedTexan]

Originally Posted by Mr.ac

Yep. But only on one side. You'll know when you pop the pads off.

Unless it's totally unrelated to brakes. But eh, who knows, until you start unbolting stuff.

I pulled the caliper off and pulled the pads out when I inspected them.

[Mr.ac]

Dang, well if the pads are in good shape, then it must be the rotors.

Unless by some weird chance the abs is kicking in for some unknown reason? That might mimic grinding/vibrations. Or a wheel bearing going out? But I hardly seen wheel bearings going out. Maybe your the lucky 5% that's have it.

[Skurj]

new rotors less than $60 ea... and takes no time to replacem.

[Leonardo]

Installing front rotors and pads is fairly easy. For a job this simple, I would spend the money on parts, not labor.


I have replaced all my rotors and pads with some after market parts from ebay that: stop my car, fit in my small budget, and make me happy.