Grinding Noise When Braking
Grinding under braking usually means the pads are worn past the friction material and the backing plate is cutting into the rotor. Stop driving and look.
What it feels like
- A metal-on-metal scrape that gets louder as you press harder
- The pedal pulses or the car pulls to one side
- A grinding that continues briefly after you release the pedal
- Visible scoring or a lip on the rotor edge
Codes that usually produce this
No OBD-II code is recorded for this symptom yet. That does not mean nothing is wrong — it means the fix is mechanical rather than electronic, or the fault has not set a code. The checks below still apply.
Check these first, in this order
Free checks first. Nothing here costs money except the fuel you burn.
- 1
Look through the spokes of each wheel at the brake pad thickness without removing anything.
What you'll seeAt least 3mm of friction material. Metal-on-metal means pads are gone.
- 2
Run a fingernail across the rotor face through the wheel gap.
What you'll seeA smooth surface. Deep grooves mean the rotor needs replacing with the pads.
- 3
Check the brake fluid level in the reservoir under the hood.
What you'll seeBetween the marks. A low level with no leak means worn pads pushed the pistons out.
Stop and get it looked at if
- The car pulls hard to one side while braking.
- The pedal goes soft or sinks toward the floor.
- You can see metal backing plates touching the rotor.