New brake pads grinding can occur due to improper installation, rotor damage, or inadequate lubrication. It’s important to address the issue promptly to prevent further damage to the braking system and ensure safety.
Hearing a grinding noise from the car’s braking system is never enjoyable. Hearing it from new brake pads can be especially concerning. However, the issue can be resolved by identifying its causes and solutions. Brake pads use friction to slow or stop a vehicle, while rotors support this function. It’s crucial to identify the cause and fix it, as malfunctioning components can be dangerous.
This article will identify the reasons for the grinding noise found in newly installed brake pads, its remedies, and how to avoid it in the future. If you are doing the brake pads replacement yourself or having a mechanic do it, knowing this will help to ensure that the braking system will be of good quality and will last for a long time.
Contents
Why Do New Brake Pads Grind?
When you have new brake pads that are already grinding, there can be a number of reasons as to why that may be happening. Each reason could be due to an outside factor or an internal issue with the brake pads.
1. Brake Clearance Issues After Installation
Having poorly aligned brake pads may be the reason as to why your brake pads are grinding. When the pads are not aligned with the caliper the may grind on the rotor causing that noise.
Misalignment: Misaligned brake pads will cause the brakes not to make contact all at the same time.
Loose pads: Brake noise may also be present as a result of lost caliper pads that have the potential to rattle and cause noise while driving.
Recommendation: All recommendations call for the installation of new pads in as much of a professional capacity as is possible to satisfy manufacturer criteria.
2. Problems with Rotors
Rotors are important in the process of braking. If the rotors are contaminated or damaged, the new brake pads will grind against the rotors. Things like dirt, grease, oil, or rust can cause this issue.
Rust: If the vehicle has been parked for a long time, a thin layer of rust can form on the rotors. This can cause new brake pads to grind on the rotors.
Debris: Road grime, dirt, and small stones can get caught between the rotor and the brake pad. This will cause some grinding and the pads will destroy the rotor since it is contaminated.
Worn Rotors: When rotors are too worn down or when the rotors have grooves, the new brake pads will not have a smooth surface to make contact with. This leads to grinding and braking.
Solution: If you’re installing new brake pads, make sure to clean the rotors. If the rotors are damaged, it will be necessary to dispose of the rotors.
3. Bedding Process Not Done Correctly
The bedding or break in process is a crucial part of installing new brake pads. This helps new pads form a correct bond to the surface of the rotor to ensure even braking friction. Without the process done properly the new brake pads not only not bond correctly, but also leave a lot of friction spots and potential grinding.
Not Enough Bedding: If the bedding process is done but not to the correct standard, the bedding cycle will cause uneven contact points on the rotor. This will cause numerous contact points in a short period of time and will cause grinding sounds in a rotor.
Too Much Braking: During the bedding process, the brake pads may experience uneven wear due to excessive use of the brakes.
Solution: This is a problem that can easily be done by driving within a safe zone and applying light and gradual braking to perform the bedding process correctly. This is also the time to follow any manuals that come with the pads to ensure that the bedding process is done correctly.
4. Bad Quality Brake Pads
The quality of the brake pads will determine the overall performance of the pads. If the brake pads have a low quality, it is likely that the materials are not able to properly bond with the pads, which will cause grinding and or squeaking in the pads. Additionally, the brake pads may not be designed to fit the brake rotors properly, which will also lead to excessive friction and noise.
Poor Quality Materials: Some budget brake pads may have additives or materials in their construction that make them wear quicker or lead to greater brake pad friction when applied.
Manufacturing Defects: Budget brake pads may come with manufacturing defects like uneven layer thickness or improperly adhered layers, causing them to make inconsistent contact with the rotor.
Solution: Always choose brake pads that have a solid reputation manufacturing them. Even though they may cost more, they provide greater performance, longevity, and will lessen rate of brake pads grinding.
5. Insufficient Part Lubrication
A caliper is in charge of moving brake parts like pins and slides. For these items to work seamlessly they need to have a considerable amount of lubrication. If they don’t the grinding sounds of metal on metal will be present.
Caliper slides and pins: These mechanisms allow the brake pads to slide freely. If they dry up or get rusty, the brake pads may get stuck and improperly apply uniform pressure to the rotor.
Shims: These components dampen noise and vibrations. If they’re inadequately lubricated, the grinding sounds will be present because the metal parts will rub.
Solution: Make sure to lubricate all the brake system moving parts during installation. Use recommended lubricants or brake grease on caliper pins, slides, and shims to avoid excessive friction.
Preventing the New Brake Pads from Grinding
To help prevent the issue of your new brake pads grinding, it’s a good idea to consider these suggestions before the grinding starts.
1. Quality Brake Pads
When you choose to invest more money into brake pads, you will almost always get better results. This is more likely to save you money in the long run, as better brake pads will last longer, brake your vehicle better, and cause less noise.
2. Proper Installation
If you choose to install your brake pads and components and do your own brake work, make sure that they are properly positioned to the caliper and that they are secured in the caliper. You will also want to make sure all of the associated components to the brake system are in good condition, such as the rotors, calipers, and any related hardware before you install the new brake pads as well.
3. Proper Bedding-in
Failing to properly ‘bed-in’ your brake pads will likely cause grinding and uneven wear to the brake pads. You will want to follow the instructions in the user manual related to the bedding process very carefully to avoid any issues in the braking process.
4. Inspections
In order to prevent any issues from compounding, you will want to monitor the state of your brake system regularly, especially before the brake pads have worn down to the point where there will be damage to the other associated hardware that will increase the chance that the system will grind.
5. Putting Lubricant on Parts
Using brake lubricant manufacturer specified for the brake system on moving parts like the calipers pins and slides help ease the friction and ultimately grinding.
What to Do If You Hear Grinding After Installing New Brake Pads?
Hearing grinding noises after installing new brake pads can damage parts of the brake system, including the pads themselves. This is an issue that needs attention. Here’s how to address it –
- Stop Driving: Avoid Using The Car Once grinding noises are heard, the vehicle needs to be stopped in order to not cause even more serious damage to the rotors on the braking system and the rest of the components.
- Examine The Brake Pads And Rotors: Determine if the pads and rotors have any visible damage like rust, warping and debris. If the rotors are more than less damaged, they may need to be resurfaced or replaced.
- See A Mechanic: If the grinding noise is not resolved, the mechanic may be in a position to remove the new installed brakes and add more brake pads if the grinding noise is still not justified.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some FAQs about new brake pads making grinding noise –
- Why do new brake pads make a grinding noise?
New brake pads may make grinding noise due to poor installation, damaged rotors, not enough lube, or the bedding-in process not being done right.
- How do I stop my new brake pads from grinding?
Have your brakes installed correctly, clean your rotors, have quality brake pads, and make sure your bedding-in process is done right to stop grinding.
- Can grinding damage the rotors?
Yes, if your new brakes are grinding, the rotors may get damaged from the grinding. They also may get warped or worn down, and then need to be resurfaced or replaced.
4. How often do I need to get new brake pads?
The type of vehicle, driving behaviors, and other factors affect how often brake pads need to be replaced, but it typically happens around 25,000-70,000 miles. Ensure your brake pads are checked often to get the most of the brake pads.
- What’s the risk of ignoring the grinding noise?
If there are noises coming from the braking system, be sure to address these as soon as possible. If they are ignored they will not only get worse, but the system will suffer damage to the rotors and calipers which can result in very costly repairs.
Conclusion
There are several reasons your new brake pads may be grinding. It could be due to poor installation, worn out rotors, or low-quality brake pads. Grinding may cause more serious damage to the entire brake system. It could also cause serious damage to the rotors and calipers. For the best brake safety, the best pads are to be used and your brakes should be installed properly. If the grinding does not stop, a professional should be contacted to see how to fix the problem.
