Alarming sound with brakes

[SVT_Power]

Okay I think it probably is a simple issue, but whenever I press the brakes, I hear metal on metal grinding sort of sound. Initially I thought brake pad, but apparently that's been changed this year sometime. So what could it be

[MX793]

Might still be the brake pads.  I had the slide pins on my rear calipers seize, causing the pads to constantly rub on the disk, and it wore the rear pads down to the backing plate within a couple of thousand miles of when I changed them.

[SVT_Power]

I will look tomorrow if i can

[heelntoe]

which side is the noise comming from? is the explorer a drum/disc setup?

[JWC]

If this is an Explorer, be sure to check the inboard pads, especially rear.  They wear quicker and go metal-to-metal before the outer pads. 

And, like mentioned previously, make sure the slide pins are cleaned and lubricated when the brakes are serviced.  They will stick, but not usually to the point of seizing.  Instead, you'll hear a popping noise every time you hit the brakes, which should be considered kinda of a warning to check them.

[SVT_Power]

I think it's mostly coming from the left front. The rears seem to be fine, although I may be wrong. I didn't bother taking the wheels off since I don't have a torque wrench at home. Upon visual inspection, there doesn't seem to be any kind of physical damage to the rotors themselves. My mom is gonna take it in to a shop tomorrow

[SVT_Power]

which side is the noise comming from? is the explorer a drum/disc setup?

disc/disc

[r0tor]

probably a worn pad and seized up caliper... although once on my old car i had a slim get loose and it somehow managed to bend its way and make contact with the rotor and squeal like crazy

[Raghavan]

If your rotor is really wavy and shiny, then you have problems.

[SVT_Power]

If your rotor is really wavy and shiny, then you have problems.

Not that

[SVT_Power]

And also, it takes alot more braking to slow the car down now

[AutobahnSHO]

My only experience with grinding noise and loss of braking power was when my wife's grandparents gave us a Cavalier, and the pads just WORE OUT and damaged the rotors.  We went on a couple hour drive and right when we got to our destination GRIIIIIIIINNNNNNND and pedal on the floor. 
Needed pads, rotors, and the shop said the calipers were damaged as well.  At the time I didn't have a clue about autos, so we shelled out big $$$ for all 3...

[SVT_Power]

Okay well we took to a shop and saw what was wrong. The inside pad for the right front brake was worn out to the point where it was grinding against the rotor and the rotor had to be replaced





Comparing the fine rotor on left, damaged on right

[MX793]

I hope the shop made sure to check that the caliper slide pins weren't seized (and applied some lube if they were) or else you'll have a repeat of this scenario in the near future.

[J86]

I so called that in the Chat Thread

I did the EXACT same thing two years ago...miserable

[SVT_Power]

I hope the shop made sure to check that the caliper slide pins weren't seized (and applied some lube if they were) or else you'll have a repeat of this scenario in the near future.

well ill go complain to them if the same thing occurs soon

[280Z Turbo]

Sorry but...



This reminds me...I need to repair the brakes on the Z.

When I first start driving the car they're fine, but they stick a little bit and make a horrible squeeling noise after some driving. It turns out they're heating up as I drive down the road and fading, I guess. They otherwise work flawlessly, but it's getting worse.

I'm going to bleed the brakes and lubricate the pins in the calipers. Maybe I should clean out the whole braking system for the front. Not sure if the rear drums do it or not. Anything else I should do?