Grinding under braking can indicate worn friction material or another brake fault. See why it deserves prompt inspection and what a garage may check.
A grinding noise that occurs when the brakes are applied deserves prompt attention because it can involve metal-to-metal contact or another safety-critical brake problem.
If friction material is exhausted, the pad backing can contact the disc and cause grinding. This can quickly damage the disc and reduce braking performance.
Debris, a damaged disc, sticking caliper, brake shield or other rotating component can also make harsh noises. The wheel and brake assembly needs inspection rather than diagnosis from sound alone.
If the vehicle pulls, the pedal feels abnormal, braking performance reduces or a red brake warning appears, stop using the vehicle and arrange professional assessment.
Describe exactly what is happening and AutoAid can use the details, saved vehicle and any OBD-II code to narrow the likely causes.
Start a diagnosisSee all symptom guides →Symptom pages are a starting point, not a confirmed diagnosis. If the vehicle has a safety-critical problem, stop somewhere safe and arrange professional inspection.