Grinding Noise in Front Brakes, Need Help.

[zdkaiser]

So,Last night I was driving and I just started to notice a grinding noise, like a squeaky metal on metal grinding noise, coming from the front end when braking. It occurs only when braking at low speeds. If I brake hard from say 20mph down, I hear nothing. But if I am going 5mph and brake gently I hear this almost liquid, metal on metal grinding noise. I don't think my brakes are bad, as I just had both front rotors, both front pads, and one caliper replaced last month. I would say the new front end brakes have maybe 3000 miles on them, if that. And it seems like the area that is making most of the grinding noise is where the new caliper is. Which is weird. Also, the grinding doesn't happen all the time. It happened last night consistently when my brakes were warm, but not at all this morning when they were cold. Once I drove around for a while, the brakes did make the noise once, just slightly though. And I tried to bring the noise out, by braking gently at slow speeds, and it didn't always make the sound. Anyways, anybody have any ideas. It happens both with i am going straight, and also when i turn the wheel.

[zdkaiser]

also, these brakes have been on for a while now, almost a month, and this just started to happen. which is weird.do you think it could be that there is some crap wedged up in the area?

[lovemyraffe]

I initially thought there might be something wedged in there, but it would likely be making the noise constantly if there were something wedged in there. I would definetly start by making sure that there isn't something wedged before taking it to someone and paying them to figure it out.

[djkeev]

Rocks can jump up and wedge into that area on occasion. A defective caliper which is either incorrectly installed or just bad can drag brakes hard all the time and you can indeed wear out a brake pad in 3000 miles.Pull the wheel and take a look at what you have. The sooner, the better!Dave

[zdkaiser]

The front driver side wheel just had the caliper replaced, as the old caliper seized up and worn the pad down. I went through that ordeal already. And how I noticed the problem was, my one wheel was black with break dust and the other one wasn't. So, this new grinding noise is on that very same wheel with the brand new caliper. I haven't noticed any increase in brake dust, as compared to the other front tire. So, I don't think the caliper is a problem or has seized. I went to the car wash today and blasted the rotors and calipers with the high-pressure hose hoping to free whatever was stuck in there (if there was indeed something stuck in there). I looked over the rotors. Both feel smooth as a baby's (removed) with no grooves (as they should, they are new). I did find a black spot on one rotor. Very small, and what seems like a spot where tar or something hard had ground in. I tried to scrape it off, but it won't.I drove the car around all afternoon after washing the wheels out, and I cannot get the car to make the noise anymore. I even drove slowly and used the brakes frequently to try to bring the noise out. Nothing. I am just going to leave it be. I have to drive a bunch tomorrow, and I will see if continues to make the noise. I think I either wore down what was lodged in there, or I sprayed it out (hopefully). It seems odd that after 2000+ miles on these new pads and rotors, a grinding noise would suddenly appear (and just for one night).

[zdkaiser]

thanks for the responses. i would like to hear more.

[lovemyraffe]

I think something was stuck in there and when you washed it, it came out.

[Cougar Vibe]

I had this same problem (low-speed grinding) w/my '05 at about 42K miles. Pulled the wheels and pads on both sides and found nothing; the pads still had a lot of meat on them, so I reinstalled w/some additional "Brake Quiet." Unfortunately, the grinding noise came back almost immediately and continued for about another 2K miles. I ultimately got fed up w/it and bought a set of Autozone house-brand ceramics. Noise went away and hasn't returned in 5K miles. Best $50 I've spent on my Vibe since buying it...