What your vehicle brakes can tell you
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This is what happens when your brakes dont work right
Find out what your brakes are telling you
If you drive, you may know that after times your brakes may make a noise, feel weird, or just make you think "uh...what was that?" Well here is some useful information on what your brakes may be telling you.
First lets learn how brakes work. Brakes work by converting friction into stopping power. You push on the brakes, the brake fluid goes through the brake lines and push the brake calipers to push the brake pads onto your rotors or drums and causes them to stop. It's just like running something between your hands, if you hold it loose or not at all, it moves feely, but the more pressure you put on it, the more it slows down and eventually stops. So thats how brakes work.
Now that you know how they work, lets talk about what happens if there is a problem with your brakes. If you have a leak of fluid in your braking system then air gets into your brake system and cause the brakes to feel mushy because air can be compressed unlike fluid. It's what Bernoulli was talking about when he was saying how fluid can move things by applying pressure to it because it doesn't loose any force. So if you have air in the system then the brakes won't apply the the same pressure your foot does. Also if your brake pads don't have enough material then they will take longer to respond beceause it takes a longer time for the pads to hit the rotor or drum. So thats what happens if there is a problem.
So now its time to talk about what your brakes tell you when something is wrong. Often times brakes make noises to tell you whats wrong, here are the noises and what they usually mean.
-Grinding or scratching is often times meaning that all the brake material is gone and now the metal plate that holds the pad is rubbing against the rotor. This is very bad because now you have no braking material and the two pieces of metal rubbing against eachother can melt and cause your brakes to stick. You now have to pay for new brake pads and rotors/drums because the damage to them can't be repaired. To avoid this you should replaced your brakes when the material is 3mm or lower on pads. and 1mm on shoes.
-Loud screeching or high pitch noises often times mean that your rotors are glazed. Glazing is caused by excessive braking and the rotors get too hot and become burned. You can tell this has happened because the rotors will have a dark ring or blue marks on them. To fix this the best thing to do is create a new rotor surface by machining your rotors at a local shop. This creates a new surface and the noise should go away. To avoid this happening at all don't go really fast and then slam on the brakes. This causes a lot of friction which turns to heat and causes the burn on the rotor. It can also cause the rotors to warp which can lead to vibrations.
-Vibration while braking often times means your rotors or drums have been warped. This is caused by heat making them loose their shape. If your rotors or drums are too thin they will warp and need to be replaced. But if it's just because they got too hot and warped then all that needs to be done is that they need to be resurfaced by a local shop. To know whether or not the vibration is coming from the front or back you can drive down the freeway and push the brakes until you feel the vibration, if you feel the vibration in the steering while then its the front because it's transfering through the front wheels into the steering into the steering wheel. If you want to check the back then you can apply the parking brake while driving slightly and you will feel the vibration in the car and not just the steering wheel.
-Brake Pull is when your vehicle pulls to one direction when you brake. This can be caused by your brake caliper not applying the brakes evenly with the other usually as a result of a fluid leak in the caliper. To know which side it is, you'll just have to look at the brake caliper and see which one is leaking, this usually should be done by a professional. To fix this you will have to replace the caliper and bleed the brakes of all the air in the system. There is no real cause for this besides just normal wear.
So there are the most common problems with brakes besides normal wear. So next time your driving and you hit the brakes and they start talking to you, you'll have a better idea of what the problem is. Be sure to consult a professional before trying anything yourself because if done incorrectly, you might cause an accident which will result in injury or death.
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I have been involved in mechanical systems a long time and you've aptly described and illustrated the brake system. You have a very good hub. If you get a chance, give my hub a looking over, it's at http://hubpages.com/hub/mechanicstoolstore. thanks.
I was wanting to know why my brakes have air in them and go almost to the floor. I was told it could be a leak in the brake line or the master cycliner. I just wanted to know for sure.
There could be a leak in your break system, maybe a bad line or a seal is bad. If you want, open your hood at look at the master cylinder which will be somewhere on top, usually against the firewall (the wall between the engine and the steering wheel) on the opposite side of the steering wheel. Its a container with fluid that should have a level indicator on it. Anyways, look at that and see if you see any fluid or anything that looks wet. Usually those leak, if not, then if you have rear drums for your rear brakes the rear wheel cylinders could be leaking which you should have a professional look at those. If you have had any brake work done where something was replaced besides the pads or shoes then they should have bled the air out of the system. If you are comfortable with working on cars i could tell you how to bleed the brakes but only if you are comfortable because if you do it wrong you could be worse off then you are now.
My brakes make a squeeking noise. I bought the car brand new & now have 28K miles on it. Dealer says I need to change the rear pads, and the fronts r fine. This is a 2002 Nissan Altima 2.5S.
My questions is how would the rear brakes go bad first, and the front ones seem OK? I thought it is always the opposit.
yeah that doesnt make sense at all. Your front brakes should always wear quicker unless you have a lot of weight in the back or you are driving in reverse on the highways which i bet is highly unlikely. Ask them to get you measurements on them and also if they are pads or drum brakes. Squeeking can come from glazing which is caused by hard braking, it makes them kinda shine with blue and isn't really unsafe, just annoying. You can usually buff it out or just turn the rotors. Also if you drove with your parking brake on then i could see them telling you they are bad. Get more info and then get back to me.
Ok so I hit about 10-15k miles since my last pad and rotor change. I put on Brembo Rotors (nothing special..just plain) and some cheap brake pads (silly me)...and now when i accelerate to about 10-20mph I can hear schreeching...I instantly knew it had to be the brakes but I read around and see that the metal shims(you know the shims built in to give noise telling you your pads need to be changed) are heard only when you brake. Is this true? Because right now I hear the metal shim sound when I don't even apply the brakes
yeah, the metal indicator shouldnt be hitting your rotor while driving unless it grabbed or something one time. There are other metal pieces that sometimes can fall out of place and rub, take a look at your brakes even with the wheel on to see if you can see any large grooves or anything that might indicate metal grabbing. If you're hearing a noice without braking then something is out of place and/or there is something else wrong besides your brakes.
Alright thanks a lot...I'm going in to my friend's shop for a free alignment/rotating tommorow...I'll take a better look then...hopefully nothing will be too out of shape to fix...thanks a lot for the tip YoJDawg.
About three weeks to a month ago my mechanic told me I needed break pads put on my back wheels. The work was done, and about two weeks later there was a lot of squealing at a very high pitch coming from the back right wheel. Veeery annoying. I told the mechanic about the noise, and he told me to bring it back in. I was told that there was dirt that was cleaned out, but if the squealing continued I may need a new drum. After reading your comment about screeching and high pitch noises, I'm thinking I may need the rotors resurfaced. Please tell me what the possibilities are.
well you either have drums or rotors in the back. Not both, anyways, the if it is drums cleaning can help and if it doesn't go away i'd have them resurface the drums. If you have rotors in the back have them resurfaced and it should stop the noise. Ask them what the problem is, dont let them tell you what "NEEDS" to be done. Be aware though that resurfacing drums and rotors too much will lead to having them replaced, its just normal wear. Hope this helps, also the noise can come from braking to hard causing too much heat and burning the rotors.
Well I had the choice to go rotate/align my tires tommorow but tonight I managed to drive around a bit hoping the sound will somehow just stop (thinking maybe some debris just got caught in between the rotor and pads)...after about a half hour of driving...the sound stopped...I parked the car and just ate dinner and watched a movie...then came back out to drive around once again (just to see if heat could play a role in this noise) but it made no sound. My dad told me that a while back in his '91 beamer he had that same exact problem...said he brought it to the shop and they just cleaned out his brakes for him and that got the problem solved...so whoever has the same problem as I did...try cleaning your brakes prior to any replacing done...thanks for all the info YoJDawg...did help stop my panicking at the moment (just got done with a big tune-up on my mom's car and that was already a big chunk out my wallet...)
is it normal for your brakes to get really hot?
brakes will get hot, very hot if you are driving a lot and fast, its not really that normal for breakes to turn red though. So if you see your brake parts getting red then something is probably stuck in the on position. But besides that, yes brakes will get hot, its friction, that how it stops.
I have a 2005 Envoy and when I go to brake the car seems to bounce from front to back like the car is jumping. What can cause this? Do you think it is a warped rotor? Thanks
My 2003 Honda accord just started making tinny, metal sounds, as if I'm draggin a metal strip. It stops making sounds when I press my brakes. Why do you think this is happening?
I have a 2003 Dodge Neon, and the front brake pads were just replaced a week ago. But whenever I started the car, I can hear the high pitched noise when I press the brake pedal. It's hard to tell whether the sound is from the front wheel or the rear wheel. There is one time when I made a sharp right turn, something fell in my trunk. There was high pitched noise clearly from the real wheel. After driving for a while, it is much better. I can barely hear the noise when the car is braked. Could you please give me some ideas? Thank you very much!
The noise in the drunk could be something in the trunk, maybe even the spare tire not held down all the way. If you're hearing noises from the back and you think something is rattling in there then you should have it looked at beacuse usually that means your parking brake components are messed up. High pitch noises also can mean though just a lot of brake dust in the rear drums. Take it to a shop that does free brake inspections would be my suggestion. You don't have anything to lose unless something is really wrong.
My 1998 Ford Explorer makes a slight grinding and sqeaking noise. I have had my breaks checked twice since then. They say everyhting looks fine. My mechanic said that the noise is normal. He also said that thry now use ceramic brake pads because they have had trouble with people complaining about the regular brake pads making that noise. Is this true?
I just had my my tires rotated and front brakes replaced (rotors and pads) on a 2004 Sorento, 41k miles. The day I picked up my car, the car began making a clunking, metallic sound on the right side of the car (can't tell if it's front or back), which became progressively worse as I drove it. This happens while driving, NOT while braking, and the sound pulsates with each tire rotation. I took it back immediately, and they "readjusted" the brakes, test drove it, and claimed they didn't hear anything. But on my way home again, after five minutes, the same sound returned. It ends up being so loud that people down the block can hear me coming. The neighborhood mechanic thinks the Kia dealer may have bent something, resulting in metal grinding. My father, however, thinks that there's a rogue piece of metal floating around or the Kia emblem in the center of the tire is loose and clanging around. Any ideas? Either way, I'm not happy about having to take it back to the dealer for ANOTHER round of work that may or may not solve the problem. :)
Thanks in advance for any advice. I've been searching high and low for folks who have experienced the same problems (and, of course, for someone who can provide some answers!). Thanks so much for offering us this forum!
I drive a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Lately I've been noticing a squealing noise coming from the front brakes while braking. The noise isnt very consistent though, occuring every few times I brake. I had my front rotors and pads replaced 5 months ago but havent had any problems since. Im pretty sure this isnt a major problem but before I take my car into the shop, can you give me some ideas on what the problem could be. Thanks
Jennifer- The Noise sometimes can b e normal, but if you really dont like it then i would ask them how muh they charge to resurface your rotors and go from there. Rotors get glazed from heat and cause noise seomtimes.
Kpenote- I suggest you going to your shop and having them go on a road test with you to confirm the noise. If they go with you, you can point it out and then they have to take care of it.
Justin- Probably the same problem as jennifer, ask how much for resurface of rotors because they are probably glazed. That is one of the most common things.
I have a 04 malibu with 68000 miles and I had rotors and ceramic brakes put on the car 6 weeks ago and when I got the car from the shop they told me that the brakes were not setting in right to take it easy on them. Well I noticed squealing and I was told that happens sometimes and the squealing turned into grinding and I took it back to the shop and they said the brake pads were gone and the cause was both calipers were bad they were sticking. What is the odds that both calipers go bad at the same time and so soon after having new rotor and pads put on? shouldn't they have noticed that when they put them on?
I just got done changing pads with mounting hardware and rotors all around my 95 Probe. Now i have a constant friction on the rotors. After driving 3 miles with very light braking, my rotors are hot to touch. Not hot enough to make me scream when i touch them but they are so hot that I cant keep my fingers on them for more than 2 seconds. I loosened the parking brake adjusters on the rear wheels 1/3 of turn but the friction noise is still there and breaks get just as hot. I'm worried my my bearings are going to suffer from the heat. Any idea what the normal operating temp after normal driving should be? There is no smell or smoke coming from the brakes however they are hot to touch even if i drive the car at 15mph for a mile and gently apply the brakes to stop. Could this be normal for new pads and rotors until they are broken in?
I just recently changed my OE rotors and pads to Brembo slotted fronts and rears with Mintex redbox pads for my 1996 VW GTI VR6 and I'm having some braking issues now...
first issue is that I have to press really hard on my brakes for it to slow and stop? worst then my OE rotors and pads that were worn out...what could be the problem?
Second issues is that when i park and use my ebrake...the car still rolls unless I pull the ebrake almost all the way up...how can this be adjusted?
I'm not familiar with brakes and its system...so any info would be appreciated.
thanks
Vicki, they should have noticed any problems on the first time around. You should try to get them to pay for the labor since they werent properly inspected the first time. But if your brakes werent setting right, that should have been fixed immediatly and could have saved any damage down the road.
fpgt, your brakes shouldn't be getting that hot nor should they be contstantly rubbing. I'd recommend making sure those brakes are ok for your probe. I work at a Ford dealer and whenever we do brakes, we'd rather get Ford/Motorcraft parts instead of aftermarket because Ford/Motorcraft really is a lot better. Im not just trying to sell my product but when customers have asked for CarQuest or whatever, we often times have noise problems or whatever because the brakes weren't SPECIFIC for the vehicle unlike the ones you would get at a Ford Dealer.
Kudos, Sometimes when putting no brakes on, they do feel odd at first and a little squishy. I'd make sure everything is working correctly and that everything is lubed properly. To be honest though, OE parts are usually a lot better for your vehicle unless you buy high end parts. I'd really recommend sticking to OE parts because they are made for your vehicle. The parking brake can be adusted very easily if you know how. There is a spindle looking type object in the drums and you just have to spin that usually. I'd recommend taking it to a shop and having them inspect the wear on the shoes and adjusting the parking brake. Most places will do it for free, check for local coupons about free brake inspections.
Yo Dawg,
I put 20in wheels on my 2007 GMC sierra and ever since, when I push the brake, the truck vibrates. I feel it on the steering wheel and on the front console. I took the truck to the dealership and they cut the rotors as they were warped. The problem was still there. I went and put new front brake pads and the problem is still there. We put the back wheels on another 04 gmc sierra truck and the problem is fixed. With 20in wheels in the front and factory wheels in the back, the vibration stopped. What is the problem?
Thanks,
CL
I have a 2003 dodge neon. i just changed the brake pads and the moment i started the car and pressed on the brake, it felt like there was no brakes on it! do i need to bleed it out again?
Hey, the brakes on my renault clio work perfectly but the brake lights do not come on immediately when pressed. They only come on when the brakes are pressed sort of 1/4 of the way in. The brakes still work at this point however. Any ideas? Thanx
My van brake light comes on when I push the brake and goes off when I let off the brake. Could this just be the computer not working well? The brakes seem to be fine. The AB light has gone off and on for over a year. They told us it was okay. The brakes seem to work fine. We do seem to have other lights that sometimes come on and stay on. We have had them checked and they stay on everytime. thanks!
CL, after market wheels and rims will often times make your vehicle ride different and cause vibrations. I'd recommend going back to stock rims and tires. Or have your wheels balanced at a good tire shop. Michellin tires are often times the best tires you can get, they balance good and ride really nice.
Bentot, bleeding the brakes my work but i'd double check your work and after you put brakes on you need to pump the pedal so that the calipers get back to the right position.
Donna, your brake switch is probably bad. There is a little switch right under the brake pedal that when you push it, makes the lights go on, i'd recommend getting that replaced, it will probably fix your problem.
Check your brake fluid level. A lot of times when it gets low and you push on the brakes, it then lowers the fluid level again making the light go on because there is a sensor that will go on when the fluid gets low. Check your master cylinder, should be right at the firewall right behind where your steering wheel would be in the engine compartment. If it IS low, see if you can see any leaks in the master cylinder if there is, that need to be replaced quickly so your brakes work right and you dont run into anything or anyone.
Hi,
Thanks for the great article... just had a quick question for you... when I take my foot off the brake, it makes kind of a "creaking" noise... so I went to the local repair shop and they found that I needed new struts and shocks (fluid was leaking out of the rear shocks) and they also recommended new rotors/pads due to severe warping (which they showed me)... anyways, got all that work done, but I still get that noise when I lift my foot off the brake at low speeds... is that normal?
Thanks so much,
RK
I own a 2005 Nissan Altima 2.5 S and my rear brakes are gone at 28,000 miles (also purchased brand new). I brought the car in for Service at dealership and asked that they replace the faulty part as the car was still under warranty. Service told me that this was normal for the rear brakes to go at 28,000 / 30,000 miles on a Nissan and that I needed to have both sets of pads and rotors replaced (~$600). This doesn't make sense to me at all. I have never had to replace pads and rotors under ~50,000 miles (Chevy, Honda etc.).
Hey YoJDawg,
Recently got my front brake pads replaced then a week later it made a loud grinding noise then stopped. I didn't think much of it at first but now it feels like the car is harder to brake than before. I have to press on the brakes harder for it to stop. Also, I just noticed that none of the brake lights shine when the brakes are applied. Is this a problem with the brakes themselves or a sensor, or none of the above where you could give a better diagnosis?
Cheers :)
Hey YoJDawg:
Thanks for your notes.
I recently have a problem with my 03 dodge neon. When I press the brake pedal and come to a complete stop, the car will give vibrate during stop. However, there is no vibrating during braking. Do you think it's related to the brake? Thanks so much.
good info hey could you help me my 99 explorer has a sort of crunging noise coming from inside of car when brake pedal is depressed the actual brakes on wheels are fine the master cylinder shows no sign of leaking the car brakes okay the brake pedals not stiff as in a bad booster i just get a suspect crunching noise from down near floorboard when braking
I just took my 2003 Ford Explorer to the shop with a noise every time I hit the brakes on my vehicle. They told me after test driving it there was no noise, but after picking it up I still heard it. They did say the rotors had some rust and suggested possibly getting new rotors? Do you think this is what is causing the sound or is it something else like warped rotors? I'm really confused and I think there is something wrong with my breaks, but don't want to spend $900 on new rotors if I don't have to now.
I have a 2003 Ford Explorer. I had some uneven wear on my rotor on the passenger side. The outside edge wore a groove in the rotor badly. I replaced that rotor and changed out the pads. Bled the lines but i still get a nasty squeak. Sometimes its constant when the wheel is turning sometimes it will only do it when the brakes are applied. The squeaking/grinding WAS only on the passengers side, but now it's on both. I put some of that silicone anti squeak sticky blue stuff on the backside of the pads prior to installing them but it still has the squeak. Any suggestions would be appreciated. By the way, great education on the brake system.
Im getting a lot of wobble and jumping in the right rear when brakes are applied. I just replaced rotors, pads and tires but it still gets jumpy when brakes are applied. Vehicle is a 2002 dodge ram quad. Could air in the brake lines be doing this?It doesnt do it every time. But when it does it.....it does it bad.
could be air in the lines, it would cause it to hesitate in the begining and then would go steady, i'd try bleeding the brake and let me know.
YoJDawg,
Thank you for providing so much great info on the braking system. It has really helped me better understand that part of my car. Here is my issue, if you don't mind taking a swing at it. I own a 99 Infiniti G20 that I bought used in 2002. The front pads and rotors were replaced by Midas in 2004. The rear pads were replaced by Midas in 2006. For the past several months, I have been getting this loud growling/grinding noise coming from the front of the car (I think from the passenger side) when I brake coming to a stoplight or stop sign. It seems to get progressively louder the longer I drive the car. It's gotten to the point that it is embarrassing.
Last week, I had new tires put on by NTB. I asked them if they could check the brakes while they had it in. Afterwards, the techs said the brakes were just fine and they didn't notice any noise during the test drive. Well, the next day, while running errands during my lunch break, the brakes start making that grinding/growling noise again. I can't take it anymore. So I drop it off at the Mida that replaced the rear brakes and explained the noises to them.
Midas just called my this morning to say that my brakes were just fine. The rear pads are basically brand new, and the front pads still have 30% pad left. They did not hear any noises during their test drive.
Am I just hearing things or are these shops not going for a long enough test drive for the noise start happening? I think I'm going to go pick up the G20 at lunch today, drive it around until it starts making those God-awful noises, and then bring it back to Midas and ask them to go on a quick drive with me.
Any idea what my G20's problem may be? Thanks!
Nothing in comes to mind with your vehicle, to me it sounds like you have brake glaze and it only happens after the brakes warm up. Your best bet like you said is to get them warmed up and take it to them while its making the noise and go on a test drive WITH them. I dont think you are crazy so you shouldnt be hearing random noises in your head. There is a noise and you shouldn't take no for an answer. Although i doubt its anything serious besides your rotors may need to be resurfaced. Good luck
i have a 94 honda civic and i cant find what is wrong with it has a new brake booster new brake pads but still lose presser real slow in the brakes when i come to a stop i took it to get checked they said that i need to pull out the pin a little on the booster but still does the same thing still losses brake presser dont know whats wrong with it if any can help thanks
So i have a 05 pontiac grand am. Recently i have had this noise whenever i puch on the brake. It sounds like a grinding nosie. What do you think it may be?
I have a 2006 BMW 325i andrecently hit a sidewalk on my passenger side. I ruined the front bearings and rods that hold my tire, as well as scraping my rims. Since my slight accident, I have had the bearings and rods that are attached to my front tire as well as the alignment done at my dealership. However, it's weird that my trunk gets very hot now after a drive, or if it did get hot prior to the accident, I never noticed it. As well I developed prior to the accident, squeking brakes, but was told my brakes were still good by the dealer? The heat in my trunk has me worried, because I didn't think it should still be hot after it's been parked in my garage for two hours after work?
i know nothing about cars and i just got my breaks fixed, they still squeal after i put pressure on them. my friend said that they squeal for a while after they are fixed. is this true?
AP- The only reason i could see your trunk getting hot is if the rear brakes are getting too hot and then the heat moves up towards your trunk. It's hard to say whats too hot though, your best bet is taking it to a BMW dealer and just having them maybe look what optimal brake heat would be.
Jan- Some brakes do make noise after. But did you get the rotors resurfaced and also did you get GOOD new brake parts. Often times if you don't resurface the brake rotors/drums they may make noise. Low quality parts also will make noise.
i dont know but i will definetly be more caustious next time. thank you very much.
Hi, YoJDawg, I have a 05' Nissan Altima 2.5S, tires have been screaming at me for a few months now. In June I'd taken it to the Nissan dealer to get an oil change and present my problem to them about the brakes. The dealership checked them out and told me I only needed my rotors turned, so I go to Tune and Lube to get my rotors turned they were only charging me $25 per rotor so sounded great! Leave the shop the next day the screaming begins again sounds like the tire is going to fall off. Tune and Lube checks it out for free of course and they tell me I need new calipers which they are charging $500. And commence to tell me that the Nissan shop have alot of apprentices so they can't diagnose the problem correctly (one of the guys used to work there). Do you think that the problem is the calipers? Is that price too high? I just want my car fixed I've only had it 18 months. My car stays parked in the garage for the most part 5 1/2 days out of the week and when I do go anywhere it is within 5-10 miles of the house, so how can I have these problems already?
Thank you in advance for taking the time to review my dilemma.
The problems could very well be the calipers sticking but the chances of that is very unlkely just because both sides rarely do that at the same time. When you got your rotors turned did they replace the pads? If not that could be the problem of it because the rotors are only half of the problem. The pads would be the other half because they can get heat glazed as well as the rotors. 500 bucks sounds about right for replacing calipers, they are expesnive. Being that you have an 05, is it still not covered under factory warrenty? To me it sounds like both shops are "throwing parts" ta the vehicle where they are just saying whatever and hoping it fixes the problem. I'd try going to an alignment shop or something like that which specializes in front end work, they often times have more insite into these things. good luck
J
Hello YoJDawg, your informations on brakes are really helpful. I now know what type of problems my braking system can experience. my problem ocurred while i was driving my 99 civic. While driving, i hit a possom when it ran toward my car. After hitting the possom, i notice that my brake started making a grinding noise when i drive. The grinding noise becomes louder while i'm driving faster and decrease while i press on the brake. I'm not sure if it's coming from the side that i hit the possom with or the other side. I have no clue what is happening there and planning to take it to a mechanic soon. i'm wondering if you could give me your opinion on what happened to my brake. I would appreciate it very much if you have a chance to give me your opinions on what the problem might be. Thank you in advance!
Tire and Lube are including brake pads with the service. Thank you for your insight, I will definitely check with a shop that specializes in front end.
Thank you
When driving at about 20 to 50 miles I hear a thud kind of noise from the front. It's not a screetching noise, but a thud, thud, thud, kind of noise. It also kind of shakes the steering wheel, but that is only when driving on the highway. I just got new tires in the front and the pads are new. It's a Grand Prix with 60,000 miles. What could it be???
Hi Dawg!
I own a 1954 Chevy 210, and haven't gotten around to driving it on a regular basis. I just recently went start the car - only to discover that brakes have completely gone out. The brake pedal hits the floor. There were no symptoms of brake failure the last time I drove it (about 5 weeks ago). Any ideas? Thank you!
I just put new brakes on my F250 Ford Diesel SD. It has 8" lift and 37's. After 3000 miles I started getting brake dust like crazy. What is up.
Thanks
I just finished replacing my front brake pads and rotors myself. After finishing, I noticed that I have to press the pedal down further in order for the brakes to engage with enough force to stop the vehicle, this does not feel normal. I made sure there were no leaks when I did the replacement, and was able to depress the piston without opening the bleeder. Could this mean that the caliper is bad?
I have a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport, When I'm braking and Im almost to a complete stop I'll sometimes lose Pressure and the brake pedal vibrates and I feel a bit of grinding. It only happens when I am almost stopped. Wht could it be?
Nice info you put together YoJDawg. :)
I think you might consider adding the sound of wear indicator to the list to make it more complete.
Regards, Misha
Hey YoJDawg,
I have a 2004 GMC Envoy that I just put two new front calipers on, and I am now bleeding the brakes with a hand/vacuum pump/bleeder. While switching the brake line from old to new calipers, I know a decent amount of air got in, but I have already used a 32oz bottle of brake fluid and lots of air is still coming out. Do I have to bleed them the old fashioned way with someone on the brake pedal and me working the bleeder valve (it has ABS, and I don't have a manual).
Thank you, Tyler
i think the old fashion way is better, also just double check for no leaks, gl
how come when i am on the freeway or im going over 50mph, i push on my brakes to slow down there is a loud thrumping noise and this onlu happens when im speeding?
Just replaced front pads on 99 expedition. Afterward, the driver side starting making a "kiss" sound at each turn of the wheel. The sound increases in frequency as the vehicle speeds up. I just replaced pads, rotors looked okay. Any ideas?
liz, if you can feel it when you brake probably a rotor problem, warped, flat spot, something.
Jimbo, check the lubrication on your slide pins and make sure everything is in the right spot. Sometimes those metal tabs if you dont replace them can rub against stuff or just be dirty
This is the bet site for information delivered to dummies like me. I have a vehicle that when i hit the breaks vibrates. This site helped me to be intelligent to discuss my issues with my dealership.
Ignornace is no longer an excuse for anything as long as there is the WEB. Thanks to whoever decided to make me and millions of others strong when we thought we were dumb.
Is it difficult to replace the piston cups on the front disk brakes? What kind of tools are needed? My husband replaced the brake pads and now the brakes are leaking fluid. He did not bleed the brakes yet. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.
i believe they are fairly easy to replace, i've never done it, replacing a caliper is usually easier and better to do. Litle more expensive but its better to have a new part than not and take the risk of messing up. Hope this helps
I have a 97 Ford Mustang V6. I changed all four brake pads but then I encountered a problem with my driver side real wheel.
When I would drive on the freeway I would hear a loud noise as if the pads would rub against the discs.
At first, I thought it was a bad caliper so I replaced both rear calipers at the same time. However, that did not fix the noise.
I jacked my car up to see if I could spot the problem. What I say shocked me! When I would release the parking brake and the brake pedal the driver side rear wheel would spin and suddenly lock up completely! Yet, when I applied the brakes it would begin to spin as if there where no brakes!
I took it to a mechanic and he said it was the differential. Is this true? What should i do?
Thank in advance.
Manny
I have a 2002 Ford F250. When I apply the brakes it pulls hard to the right and the right front wheel has excessive brake dust on it. It is in the shop and they have replaced the pads, rotors, calipers and hoses on the front but it still pulls right. The shop has been unable to diagnose the problem. Please help me with any possible solution. Thanks!
Manny it could very well be a rear end problem but i feel like that is the quick diagnosis for the problem, seems like there could be more to it, or not as much as that needed. Could be a bearing if anything.
Jim, tires and bad alignment can cause pulling while braking because of excess pressure already on one side of the vehicle and when you apply the breaks that excess pressure transfers more into that effected side. Get an alignment check and look over how your tires are wearing.
My tires are wearing evenly and the alignment checked out okay (the repair shop has checked the alignment). I left on piece of the puzzle out, the pulling only occurs once the brakes get warmed up. If I dive in stop and go traffic, the pulling will start. If I drive without traffic, the pulling does not happen.
Hmm, thats an odd one, have they checked the rear brakes? usually that isnt the problem when pulling but you never know, only thing after that would be something hydraulic in the master cylinder or HCU.
Back brakes were changed 10-12k ago. I was thinking it was the master, again excessive brake dust is on the right front wheel. And the shop cannot figure out why it only happens when the brakes heat up. I have spent over $1500.00 already and I don't want to continue to pert swap.What is the HCU?
hydraulic control unit, if you have ABS you have one
The front left brake of my car occasionally creates mild squeaking sound. Is there anyway to elimate the sound and make it perfect? I already took it for repair, but they keep on saying that nothing can be done.
it's very common, i'd recommend using better pads if you havent already tried that, sometimes if they are low quality you will get noise.
Thanks for the info, it has been a great help. I knew most of the indicators and stuff, but this has helped alot!
I just bought a 95 Mitsubishi Eclipse. It only has 42k on it and according to the records it had now pads put on it at approx 30k. When I got it home the front pads were WAY hotter than the rears (Approx 200 in front and 90 in back) is this normal or is it a sign that something is wrong?
Hm, it is normal for front brakes to be warmer than the rear. It depends on your driving conditions. I'd say take your best judgement into mind, if you dont think they should be that hot then have ti looked at. Wrong pads could be sticking or a caliper could be stuck too.
I bought my car last summer and had new front pads and discs put on it. By christmas time it was badly shuddering at the front and into the steering wheel so the pads and discs were replaced again. It was running ok to begin with but has now started badly shuddering again and not braking properly. Ive been told it could be the hubs but I could do with a second opinion? (there is also a pull to the left but i think this may be a slow puncture!!!) The car is a 2001 voltswagen golf.
It could be the hubs, that sounds logical with all the other bad luck you've had. I'd just make sure they are a dependable source to be trusting.
Great Job, YoJDawg. I have strange problem of my own. I have a 2000 Nissan Sentra & While Parked, the front driver's side squeaks when the brake pedal is pressed. It also makes noise as I begin to drive. I have checked the brakes & they aren't worn down & the rotors look ok. What could it be?
sounds like a caliper problem if you arent moving but yet the pistons and pins in the caliper are moving. I recommend if you know how, take the brakes apart and lube up the calipers and clean them out as well. GL
Thanks For The Advice. I'll try it ASAA & let you know if it helped.
I have a 98 dodge neon and i am replacing the front brakes and rotors...what are the tools necessary for the job?
whenI start driving and applied the brake it makes sound ,but after that its oki,this sound at the initial stage of the jouney not throughout the journey ,could you please let me know what cause this.
Thanks
ajd7906 Im not too sure which tools you would need for that vehicle. Probably just a set of wrenches and a sturdy 1/2 inch drive rachet or something to break loose the bracket bolts.
Kanch, brake noise when a vehicle is cold is normal. It just takes time for your vehicle to warm up to its prime operating temperature.
i have 2003 accord. My front brake rotors get really hot, but rears ones get little warm even after doing 160 km on highway and city.
I have a question. I recently replaced my front rotors and pads. After I was done I noticed my pedal was soft, I didn't do anything to allow air into the system. Do you have any ideas?
my f 250 shudders badly when I apply the brakes. I replaced front pads (it seems to be in the front end) could it be wheel bearings, or rotors.
Bill, i've noticed this on most vehicles i have done brakes on. Im not too sure but i believe its from taking everything apart and putting it back together. Everything becomes more smooth instead of there being hard or soft spots which may make it feel sudden. Usually it normalizes after not too long. Just keep an eye out on it.
Larry, sounds mostly like rotors, rotors are like a record, if the record is warped the sound may sound like it has high and low spots. Same thing with brakes, machine the rotors or get new ones. Make sure you replace both if you do.
Thanks for your information. I own a 2005 Honda Civic, I bought it brand new. It has 40K miles on it, and I have never changed the brake pads. Last time the dealer told I should change them. I do not have any problems at all, no sounds, feels the same as new. Based on their report the pads still has 3mm. My daily commute is aroung 40 miles. What should I do? Should I change them immediately, or next service? Thanks!
Dude, I'd recommended getting them replaced in the latest a month. 3mm in't really that much at all and you should take into consideration that the inside of the pads wear the most and are hard to see well so they may have missed something. Being that your car is pretty light and if you dont drive crazy i'd say you can wait a month at the most. Don't go over or you may be looking at more expensive repairs like rotors. Thanks
The information is sound, which has already been said, but I'll repeat it anyway. Worthwhile post.
YoJDawg, I bled my brakes and may have gotten some air out of the system but it was hard to tell. My Explorer has been fine ever since. Thanks for your time. I really appreciate it
If you have to pump the pedal alot while driving to get a firm brake then you did not bleed them correctly or there is a leak somewhere in your brake system. I'd recommend bleeding them again and making sure you aren't getting any bubbles.
I have had my 2004 accord 1 1/2 years when I first got it there was a major vibration --dealer checked it ok, replaced 2 sets of brake pads (worn during 40,000 mile check and 2nd due to squealing), now I have a problem with applying the brake its stiff. I just had pads and fluid redone with complete flushing(?) 2 weeks ago. Now the stiff brakes are starting. Going to Honda again in the am, but is this normal and what is the problem possibly? Thanks!!
Jenny, the brakes feeling stiff could be a result of changing the pads. You will have better and quicker response and wont need to push down so far to apply the brakes. This could feel as though they are stiff just ebough you may be used to worn down brakes. let me know how it goes.
I own a 1995 Toyota 4Runner - recently when I back up it sounds like birds singing...only when I back up. The sound comes and goes. I took it Toyota and was told that I need to have my back brakes cleaned and adjusted ASAP because this could cause a problem with my front brakes - put strain on them - if I don't. How often should back brakes be cleaned, is this urgent and what is the impact to the front brakes? Thank you.
Sometimes noise is normal but first i would isolate if its from the back or front then have them inspected, cleaned, and lubed, most likely its just needs some cleaning, i've seen this problem alot and usually its from the back because when you are going in reverse that is where most of the braking will go as well.
Hello, I just purchased a 2002 GMC Envoy and everything was fine until I started to hear a loud screeching noise. I think it is coming from the front left tire but I am not completely sure. When I took it to the dealer they said that the rotors and brakes were good. They replaced some disc that they said was touching the rotor and that it should have fixed the problem, but it didn't. It was quiet for a minute and then it went right back to the loud screeching noise everytime the car moves. It is ridiculous and I am sick of going to the dealer, but I would like to be a little more informed the next time I go. They claim that they did not hear the noise but when I pulled up one of them did. If you could tell me what the problem may be and what I could possibly suggest for them to do, I would appreciate it. I am not sure what to look for so I feel like they are basically telling me anything just to fix the problem for a minute.
I would ask them how much life is left on your brakes and rotors. If there isnt much left i'd replace them both. If they are still good have them resurface your rotors and your pads. Changing your pads to factory pads would probably help too because they are better quality if you have aftermarket pads on there. Sometime at my work if they use cheaper quality pads they will start to make noise and glaze the rotors causing a noise. Also, it is common and somewhat normal for brakes to have noise when cold.
Hi, i have a problem with my chevy corsica 96 and my mechanic doesn't know what could be causing it. We just got a tune-up and after that my car shakes and today the brakes got so hard and the wheel as well. I didn't know what to do, i lost total control of the car. Thanks God the car stop by itself. And i came back home driving my car. Help me i don't know what's wrong...
My sister has a van Roadtrekker and her brakes causes vibration and the van to shake when braking. I noticed when we were going on a 2 hr trip that it happens only at the end of the trip, so I told her maybe it is when the brakes get hot. She has had it in to the dealer, because it is only 1 year old, if even that, but they keep telling her that there is nothing wrong. Is her rotor warped, from her heavy foot? And should she have to have them resurfaced? Can you tell I have been searching online......and I seem to be right........I just don't know if she should have the rotors resurfaced. Can you help us? What should she do? It seems dangerous, because we were in the mountains on steep hills. Thanks!
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Test Drive says:
2 years ago
Liked your lesson, YoJDawg. One more thing I wish people would do is just to try braking in a safe place at a safe speed to get a feel for how their car (or SUV) behaves. In fact, I wish this everyday on Hwy 280...