Brakes Making grinding noise

[bar1]

Hi everyone,
I am driving a Nissan Tiida (2006).
Since Wednesday my brakes makes a grinding noise, however it became more frequent today.

After doing a bit of googling, it seems like What that usually means is that the pads have worn all the way through and they are grinding into the rotor itself.
however, it only happens after the breaks has been squealing for a while, and i didn't notice them squealing.

can it be anything else?
it is sunday and i can't take it anywhere ....the easiest thing for me is to take it somewhere close to work on monday, but that means driving 45km with my car....

any advise will be a great help,thanks,
Bar1.

 

[Maddmatt]

Brake pads wear out. This is normal. Get a brake service.

Ignore this and you will mess up your break discs, which will be much more costly.

Ignore it for even longer, and your breaks will fail.

 

[Spliffcat]

Your brake pads are shot. If you keep on driving the metal to metal contact on your discs will destroy them. Get fixed asap. Your discs might have to be replaced or skimmed. If its the rear drum brakes replace the shoes and have the drums checked for damage. This is assuming you don't have disc brakes all around.

 

[HavocXphere]

Yes what mad and splif said. You can probably drive it the 45km...but don't push it for more than a day. Its already pretty dodgy as is... And drive cautiously with additional following distance.

Even if you just get the pads fixed...the skimming (if necessary) can be delayed a tiny bit.

Drums won't make a squeaking noise afaik so its likely to be the disks.

 

[midnightcaller]

It could be brake dust. But to be safe, take it to a workshop and get it checked. Normally, the mechs will open it and check. If there is enough life on the pads or shoes, u don't need to change them.

Ps: I have a Nissan sentra 1999. The brakes have been squeaking since 2003. The car doesn't have any problem with coming to a standstill. I changed every component of the braking system but never found the problem. I gave up and just acknowledge that the squeaking will never go away.

 

[Aquilla]

It could be brake dust. But to be safe, take it to a workshop and get it checked. Normally, the mechs will open it and check. If there is enough life on the pads or shoes, u don't need to change them.

Ps: I have a Nissan sentra 1999. The brakes have been squeaking since 2003. The car doesn't have any problem with coming to a standstill. I changed every component of the braking system but never found the problem. I gave up and just acknowledge that the squeaking will never go away.

Squeaking doesn't always mean your pads are worn. I have a golf and its had on and off squeaking for years. It can be dust, you can do a quick check with your fingers to see if your pads are still fine.

 

[rrh]

Squeaking doesn't always mean your pads are worn. I have a golf and its had on and off squeaking for years. It can be dust, you can do a quick check with your fingers to see if your pads are still fine.

Can easily be dust, especially during the dry winter period. Best take it to garage, where it will take a mech ten minutes to check.

Re the squealing: years ago (when I drove Lancias) the brakes always squealed, thanks to the very hard disk pads. These days disk pads have a 'softer' formulation specifically to prevent squealing and (as a result) causing Merc/BMW/Audi drivers to have a heart attack

 

[bar1]

thanks guys, if its Brake pads,how much an i looking at (approximately)?
and can you guys maybe recommend a good place to get it fixed , either around fourways or Muckleneuk ?

 

[Nod]

Probable causes:
1) Pads are kaput.
2) Small stones are lodged between the pad and disc. This can happen if you have driven gravel road.
3) Dust from the break pads, but this is unlikely if you hear the noise for a long time.

 

[ponder]

thanks guys, if its Brake pads,how much an i looking at (approximately)?
and can you guys maybe recommend a good place to get it fixed , either around fourways or Muckleneuk ?

Can you change a wheel?

Remove the wheel (probably front one as those pads work the hardest) and check how much material is left on the pads. Will take you <10min
If there are big gaps in the mags you could probably look through them or feel with your finger.

If you can remove a wheel you can probably change the pads, it's not rocket science. Autozone (maybe Midas as well) is usually open on a Sunday so you can phone then and get a quote for pads from them.

How long has the grinding been going on, you've might already have gouged the rotors, simple way to do an easy check is to run a finger nail over the rotor from the inside to the outside.