Why is my car making a loud grinding/scraping sound when I apply the brakes?

Question

I have a 1998 Buick LeSabre Custom and I recently had new front brake pads put in and the mechanic adjusted the rear brake pads. Now, when my car sits in the driveway overnight or when it sits in the parking lot (in the hot sun) for a few hours at work, it makes a scraping/grinding sound when I make 4 or 5 complete stops and then it goes away. The noise is coming from the back of the car where the tires are.

It has been making this sound on a daily basis because I drive my car on a daily basis, of course. But, today, my mother drove my car and she said she heard some squeaking when she backed out of the driveway but after that it didn't make any noise. She also said it didn't make any noise when she went on her lunch break after the car had been sitting in the hot parking lot so now she's saying that whatever the sound is, it's not that serious. 

What could the noise be? Is it serious? Should we get it checked out?

ELSEGUNDO · Accepted Answer

It could be that the drums or rotors need to be turned to smooth out any scratches caused when you were applying the old brakes. Sometimes, they wear down so much that you get metal-on metal which can dig into the rotors and cause screeching and grinding. Take it back to see if they need to resurface or service the rotors. The other possibility is the new brake pads can crystallize or release dust onto the surface of the drums or rotors which also cause screeching noises.The brakes are good, it's just that the dust makes them sound bad. Hope, this helps.

sterling m · Answer

You probably have metallic brake shoes out back, the noise is the trade off for removing asbestos from brake lining. This is normal, your mechanic would have replaced the rear brakes if they needed it.

Nomadd · Answer

There's no adjustment for pads. If a mechanic charged you for that, he's a crook. Scraping noise could be from corroded rotors or bad pads.

kevusaborn · Answer

Over adjustment of what is probably REAR BRAKE SHOES.   Brake dust is your culprit here.
      Take it back and have it checked.  

       Good Luck

? · Answer

If its within the engine field its your belt, theres water leaking on to them or there unfastened and have got to be tightend, that or there worn and ought to be replaced. If its coming from the wheels then you have got to exchange your breaks. However sounds like your belt.

Gabriel R · Answer

take it back the mechanic that did it and have him look at it, the squeaking is common on new brakes not grinding though

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Why is my car making a loud grinding/scraping sound when I apply the brakes?

6 Answers