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What is the grinding noise?

What are some possible causes for my 1998 Chevy Malibu to be making a grinding noise when braking?

  • This started a few weeks ago, but my check engine light just came on yesterday. My car has 127,000 miles on it. It makes the grinding noise usually when braking and sometimes when turning a corner. Previous to this grinding noise, the car had been shuddering at random times both when accelerating and breaking, but has not been shuddering the last few weeks.

  • Answer:

    Your break pads need to be changed and probably the rotors as well. Break pads need to be replaced every so often otherwise they are completely worn down and the noise comes from the metal on your breaks rubbing onto your rotors (metal as well) thus the grinding noise (almost sounds like your dragging something). If your rotors have ridges; which they probably do now, they will need to be changed this will cost you about $300 - $700 depending on if you go to a Maidas/Firestone and such. The check engine light is probably from overworking the breaks therefore your car.

Christin... at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

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Other answers

The grinding is your brake pads or lack of. You need new ones. Maybe new brake rotors too, by now. The check engine light doesn't have anything to do with your brakes. That's an emission problem. While you're buying brakes at one of the national parts store, like Autozone or Advance, Have them pull the error codes. They do that for free. Then you can buy that part while you're there too.

john81u812

maybe you need new brake pads/shoes....when those get worn they grind....or like my car...they DON'T grind, they just disintegrate and fall off in a parking lot and you have no brakes and you're scared s***less and you conveniently forget your emergency brake but then your car finally stops and makes a horrible sound when driven....I needed new brake pads/shoes.....

darkmoongoddess86

Sounds like you wore your brake pads down to nothing. Your probably going to need some new rotors now to.

bad breaks buy new ones

Adam S

you need new brakes

Big C

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