Why are my brakes grinding?

Hearing a grind when you brake? Call (970) 317-2009 or Book appointment online. Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

What does a grinding noise from the brakes mean?

Most of the time it means metal is touching metal. A brake pad is a layer of friction material on a steel backing plate. As the pad wears, that layer gets thinner. When it is gone, the backing plate rubs the rotor every time you press the pedal, and you hear and sometimes feel a grind.

That grind does not fix itself. It usually gets louder, and the steel plate cuts into the rotor while it rubs. A job that could have been pads alone can turn into pads and rotors the longer it goes.

What else can make brakes grind?

Worn pads are the usual cause, but not the only one. Other things a shop will look for:

• A stone or debris near the rotor. A small rock from a gravel or county road can get caught between the rotor and the thin metal shield behind it. This can grind or scrape even when you are not braking.
• Surface rust after the car sits. Rotors can pick up a light layer of rust after rain, snow, or a few days parked. A short grind on the first few stops that then goes away is often just that.
• A sticking caliper. If a caliper or its slide pins stick, the pad keeps dragging on the rotor. You may notice a pull to one side, a hot smell, or one wheel that wears faster.
• Worn or damaged rotors. A rotor that is grooved or worn unevenly can grind or pulse under the pedal.

Is it safe to drive with grinding brakes?

Not for long. Metal on metal does not stop as well as a good pad on a good rotor, and it makes more heat. That matters around Durango. Long descents off Coal Bank, Molas, and Red Mountain Pass on US-550 already load brakes with heat. If your brakes grind every time you stop, keep trips short and in town and get them looked at before a mountain drive.

If the pedal feels soft, sinks, or the car pulls hard when you brake, stop driving it and call a shop. Our posts on when to change brake pads for mountain driving and inspecting brakes before driving to Silverton cover the mountain side in more detail.

Next step: see our brake repair in Durango page for the pad, rotor, caliper, brake fluid, and parking brake work Ace AutoFix does.

How does Ace AutoFix check grinding brakes?

We look at the pads, rotors, and calipers front and rear and find where the grind is coming from. Then we tell you what we found and what it will take before any work starts. We can send text and photo updates, so you see what we see. Nothing gets added without your OK, and we do not upsell.

Brake work at Ace AutoFix covers pads and rotors front and rear, caliper repair or replacement, brake fluid service, and parking brake repair. We work on any brand of car and on gas or light-duty trucks. We do not do diesel.

Do grinding brakes mean I need new rotors?

Not always. If the grind is caught early, new pads may be enough. If the backing plate has been rubbing for a while, the rotor is often scored and needs to be replaced along with the pads. We check the rotors and tell you which one it is before we quote the job. We do not publish a flat price, because parts differ by vehicle. The price is labor and parts, with no supply, ordering, or disposal fees added at the end.

Ace AutoFix is locally owned at 320 Wilson Gulch Dr, Durango, CO 81301, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. More about the shop is on our About Ace AutoFix page, and our guide to choosing an honest auto shop in Durango covers what to ask any shop.

Book with Ace AutoFix

Call (970) 317-2009 or Book appointment online. Ace AutoFix is locally owned at 320 Wilson Gulch Dr, Durango, CO 81301, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Cars and gas or light-duty trucks. No diesel.