What's that grinding noise when I brake?
A grinding noise when braking almost always means your brake pads have worn down to metal and are now grinding on the rotors. Keep driving and you'll wreck the rotors — a cheap pad job becomes an expensive rotor job — and lose braking safety. Get it checked now.
The most common causes
The pads are gone and the backing plate is grinding the rotor. This is the usual cause.
Metal grindingOnce the pads run out, the rotors get scored and usually need replacing too.
A sticking caliper drags the pad, wearing it unevenly and causing noise and heat.
A stone caught in the brake can grind — sometimes it clears, sometimes it doesn't.
After sitting in the wet, light surface rust can grind for the first few stops, then clear.
Clears after a few stopsWhat it costs in Sydney
| Brake repair (pads & rotors, photographed) | from $220 |
| Mobile diagnostic (if unsure) | $129 |
Get your brakes sorted — at your place.
Pads, rotors and fluid done right, every worn part photographed before you pay.
Common questions
Yes. Grinding usually means the pads are gone and metal is scoring the rotors — braking is compromised and the repair gets more expensive every day.
A squeal is the wear indicator telling you pads are low; a grind means they're gone and it's metal-on-metal. Grinding needs attention now.
Yes — pads, rotors and fluid, all done in your driveway with every worn part photographed.