Brake problem or something else?

Question

When I step lightly on the brake when moving slowly I hear a squeal from my brakes somewhere. When I press harder on the brakes the sound of something grinding can be heard. It kind of sounds like grinding your teeth. I have removed and inspected the rotor and brake pads on the front wheels only to find nothing wrong with them. The pads are still about 1/2" thick, there are no metal protrusions, and the rotor is clean and has no grooves etc. I see no signs of a rock or something getting wedged. I have already replaced one boot on the drivers side. Both boots look fine at the time of inspection anyways because they have not broken their rubber casing. Where or what is this sound? 95 toyota tercel

Answer 1

Hmmmm, maybe the rear brakes?  Could be a wheel bearing?   Sounds like it needs to be fixed ASAP.

Answer 2

I don't know why people on here who don't have a clue, try to answer a question. I am not sure how the other answer on here was of any help.

Let me give you a small history of brake linings before I get to the point. For many years brake linings contained asbestos. As you know, asbestos absorbed and dissipated heat extremely well. Brake linings lasted a long time and usually made little noise. But, as we also know, asbestos has shown to cause cancer, among other things.

Brake lining manufacturers have spent the last 2 decades trying to come up with materials that offer as good of service as asbestos linings used to offer. They have tried ceramic and semi metallic linings, among other things. While both work at effectively stopping the vehicle, they come up short on service life an noise. Ever notice how some cars you can hear the high pitch squeak coming from the brakes when they are slowing to a stop? My wife refuses to drive a car if the brakes squeak too loudly. There are a dozen or so products on the market to use on the backs of brake linings to try to stop the noise. Few are very effective.

The other sounds, such as the grinding you are hearing and possibly feeling in the pedal is another symptom of a composite material used in some brake pads and rotors. This composite material is supposed to aid in stopping the typical brake squeak. However, over time this material will start giving a nasty grinding sound such as what you are experiencing. It is almost an unsettling sound and feel because it sounds much like the grind one experiences when the brake lining has completely worn off and there is metal to metal contact.

You could try to replace the brake pads with another brand of lining to see if this changes the noise you are experiencing. However, you might end up with a loud brake squeak instead of grinding. You could also try to use light sand paper on the rotors to give it a different surface. Starting from the center and sanding outward. However, this will probably only offer a temporary fix.

Answer 3

it could be just brake dust. get a can of brake cleaner and spray them down.