Given their commitment to safety and overall reliability, Toyota vehicles usually have excellent braking systems. However, like every other component, these brakes are prone to wear and may sometimes exhibit odd symptoms like grinding.
If you’ve ever noticed your Toyota brakes grinding, it’s a common but fixable problem. Let’s take a quick look at some likely reasons why your brakes may be grinding, shall we?
Possible Causes of Grinding Brakes
- Worn Brake Pads
When your brake pad wears out with age, it often manifests certain signs, including brake grinding. Brake pads have a metal backing plate, and once they wear out, the plate will rub against your brake rotors, causing a squeaking noise. It may become a grinding noise if you do not immediately act.
If you think you’ve got worn brake pads, visit our auto shop in East Bay, and let’s have it replaced for a token. Remember, brake pads usually do not last beyond 60,000 miles and may wear as early as 30,000 miles.
- Rusty Brake Rotor
To slow down your vehicle while driving, the calipers press tightly against some shiny discs known as the brake rotors. Given their proximity to the ground, they may be exposed to water and dirt, making them rusty or deform. If this happens, you’ll likely hear different noises, including grinding.
The best way to deal with this issue is to get a replacement. Bring your vehicle by our auto shop at East Bay for meticulous inspection and replacement.
- Brake Caliper with Debris
Another reason your Toyota may be making a grinding noise is if your brake caliper has some debris lodged in it. It could be anything from small stones to pieces of small rocks. This would affect the performance of the caliper, causing it to stick alongside a grinding noise.
These objects must be removed immediately as they can cause serious damage to the brake disc. You can get rid of the debris by moving your car back and forth till it gets out. If that doesn’t work, the technicians at our auto shop will happily take a look and work their magic.
- Lack of Lubrication
The braking system is one of the most important systems in your vehicle. It comprises many components, some requiring periodic lubrication to stay active and effective. For instance, if the caliper bolts are not properly oiled, they may suffer serious corrosion, triggering an unpleasant grinding sound. The best way to prevent this is by oiling the bolts regularly.
Our auto shop at East Bay offers stellar maintenance services that will ensure your brake components are properly lubricated.
What You Should Do
Besides the unpleasantness of a grinding noise, it is usually a sign of a much bigger problem with your brakes. Hence, it is important to figure out the problem and have the necessary repairs or replacements done as soon as possible.
Our technicians are well-equipped to handle your Toyota’s braking system. It doesn’t matter what model it is; bring it over, and we’ll handle it. We use genuine brake parts only, and our rates are reasonable. Contact us today, and let’s revitalize those brakes.
