ok, I have a strange problem with my brakes. For a while now they've been making a grinding sound on occasion, but it's been once a year, maybe. However, I took my car out for one last run this year and while I was out it started grinding a LOT. BUt still not every time I hit the brakes. It doesn't seem to matter how hard I hit the brakes, either... it just seems to be completely random. Any ideas?

 

nothing?

 

Have you checked your brakes?? How much pad is left?? Do you have rust on the rotors?? How are the rears?? If they are drums, how are the shoes?? Is there rust on the inner drum surface?? You kind of have to do a visual before you ask a question like this. If you have not yet taken a look, you are best to see how much pad and shoe (or just pad if you have 4 wheel disk) you have left, if any. If that is OK, check to see if the gaurds on the back of the rotors are bent a bit and touching the rotor. If you have one side worn more than the other, you could have a pin seized? If you have drums, sometimes rust gets between lips and causes a grinding off and on. Also, old rotors could have rust and make some noise. When you have more info, post back and you can get a more detailed answer.

 

that's what's wierd... last fall I had the dealership do a complete brake service.. lubed calipers, everything, I replaced front and rear pads this summer, 4 wheel discs, the rotors don't have any rust on them...

 

Check the dust sheilds on the back of the rotors.