grinding noise from brakes

rose28454

I bought a Ford Escort in late November and it is running well. However the last couple of days there has been as grinding noise when i brake. OH said it was the disc pads and replaced them today. However they were not that worn so he thinks it is the rear brakes which I understand are drums brakes. He says they are more difficult to replace so I need to take it ot a garage. Thing is before the noise started the brakes seemed to be stuck on ( in the recent cold weather) and made like a releasing noise every time I pulled away. Could these 2 things be connected and any idea are rear brakes expensive to replace.
Thanks

paddedjohn

While rear drum brakes are a little fiddly they aren't really that hard to do, if your OH managed the fronts ok then he should be ok doing these too.

Quinny_2

An hours work, tops.

forgotmyname

I work slowly so it will take at least 2.5 hours with 3 cups of tea.

If you dont sort them quickly the brake shoes will dig into the drums and you will need new drums as well as the shoes. Bumping the cost up even more.

They stick on because its metal to metal contact and they are rusting together.

Get it in tomorrow and get it sorted.

flang

Are you sure it isn't just rust wearing off the discs? after wet weather?

thegirlintheattic

Ditto Flang. My brakes grind every so often when the car hasn't been used for a few days in wet weather. Goes away after a few times braking.

Wig

First off, you need to be sure if the grinding noise is front or back,

You can usually easily tell if it is coming from the front.
If it is coming from the front, it may not necessarily be pads, a pity you didn't ask before you changed the fronts. You need to remove the fronts again and this time check the rim of the discs for a rusty lip, if so, remove the discs, get big hammer and hit the edge of the rim with the hammer on both sides to knock off the rim rust all the way around each side. So you put the disc on the ground, standing upright on an edge you hold the disc with your left hand, you chip away with the hammer on the top side of the disc on the "corner" of the edge , holding the disc slightly at an angle so when you come down with the hammer it chips off the corner rust.

If its rear noise, you'll have to remove to find out what needs doing.
Assuming Drum brakes:
Maybe new shoes, maybe chip off any ring of rust on the inside of drum with a cold chisel, maybe new drums. For a first timer the rears will take him all day, not an hour or even 2 hours. But it's the only way to learn. However rears are more comlpex inside and can be confusing so he should be sure to have someone he can call on for help, otherwise take it to a shop.

SteveJW

Just a tip, take a photo before removing the rear brake shoes etc, helps in remembering where all the springs go
Everyone has a phone on their camera, don't they?????

TradePro

Does the car have ABS? And if so, have you been braking on icy/wet surfaces? The pump makes a noise that sounds like grinding (especially if you're not familiar) and you would experience 'feedback' through the brake pedal.

rose28454

TradePro wrote: »

Does the car have ABS? And if so, have you been braking on icy/wet surfaces? The pump makes a noise that sounds like grinding (especially if you're not familiar) and you would experience 'feedback' through the brake pedal.

Yes it does have ABS. I will show this thread to oh tommorow so he can follow the advice given. Thanks all.