Being the owner of a busy garage has many “ups and downs.”. One of the more pleasant aspects of the job is seeing the number of different cars and car models that would appear in any given week.
This past week has seen cars as diverse as a Rolls Royce Wraith ( which was one of only 220 cars produced) to a Wolsey Hornet Mini from the late 1960s, not counting the everyday cars such as Ford Fiestas and VW Golfs. We had a Citroen DS3 call in to us early in the week with rattling car brakes.
It was in my favourite colour, a very bright red ( I love red cars). We put the citroen car with the Noisy Car Brakes on a ramp and removed all the wheels to check the Brakes, and sure enough, the front pads were worn down to the metal and the friction from “metal to metal” had also damaged the front discs. The rear brakes were cleaned and checked and were good for further use.
We contacted the customer and was given the go-ahead to replace the brakes
Of course, this meant that the customer was getting good-quality brakes with a nation-wide guarantee. The job was completed and the customer went on his way. Importantly, I took a couple of pictures because I am a great fan of the Citroen DS3.
The colours are very bright and modern-looking,
with a choice of 11 colours and four different roof colours, You can even have colour-coded alloy wheels and different carpet designs. There is also a sports version known as the D-Sport, which comes with blue teeth and climate control. The car also include 17-inch alloy wheels; the one I looked at came with Yokohama tyres and looked great. They also come out with additional body modifications and really look very stylish.
This car, in my opinion, is a great tribute
to the newCitroen DS3 designers, who had to compete with the BMW Mini and the great little Fiat 500.
More reading…
The DS3 is the first in a range of very different Citroen models that put the emphasis on style and personality, along with strong performance and driver appeal. With its stylish look and compact size, it’s easy to see why so many comparisons have been drawn with the popular MINI and Fiat 500.“
“The engine combines strong low-rev performance – 110bhp at 3600rpm and 199lb ft at 2000rpm, enough for a sub-10.0sec 0-60mph time – with a claimed 62.8mpg (combined cycle) and 118g/km of CO2 emissions, which sees annual road tax costing just £20…”EVO
https://www.pellonautocentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/brakes-pads-only.jpg396800Eric Robertshttps://www.pellonautocentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/pellon-tyres-logo-509x321.jpgEric Roberts2026-03-28 06:39:242026-03-28 06:39:24Noisy Car Brakes
Of driving your car along the road only to find that when you apply the Failing Brakes,
you hear a tremendous “grinding”noise problems
Of course winter is always a bad time for our customers with brake problems. Specifically, because drivers use their brakes much more often. Especially, if the weather turns wild. Snow and ice make drivers doubly aware of the driving conditions. Consequently, they use the brakes twice as much as they would in say dry sunny summer conditions.
Eventually the brake pads will wear away. In many cases the pads wear down to the extent of wearing out altogether thus causing Failing Brakes ! Frequently, only leaving the metal part of the pads in tack. Of course this is the time when the grinding noise can be first heard by the driver. So, causing panic as this is often accompanied by brake warning lights illuminating on the cab dashboard !
Drivers panic !
So, the noise comes from the metal part of the worn out pads grinding on the metal brake discs eventual causing Failing Brakes. Resulting in the horrific noise when the brakes are applied. Significantly, this happens many times and We are now finding that we are seen an increase in drivers calling into our Halifax garage with this problem. With with Failing Brakes that are rattling and banging. Many of our customers are lady drivers (about 60% we estimate).
Not being sexist but the lady drivers do appear to panic more when this bad brake experience happens. Finding out that when you apply the brakes. Then you can hear a tremendous “grinding”noise. As a result, coming from your car. This can be a harrowing and frightening experience. Especially, to a first time driver.
When this happens all the customer wants to do is stop their car. Of course and then, getting it to a garage as soon as possible. As I have siad earlier, these days as well as the noise, then a warning light will illuminate. Hence, on the dash-board. Making the experience twice as daunting.
Customers just want their vehicle putting right !
So, in really severe cases of total brake failure, then a recovery is often required. Drivers just dont want to drive their cars that are making such a terrible noise. So, the cars are just left with us to do whatever is needed to make their vehicles roadworthy again ! The cost of the repairs does not seem to be a problem. Because, this important part of the car and the brakes must be fixed at all cost.
Why let the brakes get to this stage ?
This is the bit that I don’t understand ! I believe that the main reason for the customer grinding brake problem is a lack of car servicing. Thus allowing their cars to become beyond the stage of proper safety levels (when the pads are completely worn down and they become metal on metal with the Discs). Dangerously, this problem occurs mainly because the vehicle had not been serviced the year before.
Customers now lead very busy lives ! So, it is not surprising when we tell them that their car has not been serviced for over two years. I must admit that I am in this bracket ! Consequently, because of a missed service then parts that need replacing such as brake pads . So, are neglected and wear out causing the grinding problem. Customers do not usually miss servicing on purpose !
So, there was a time when our customers would miss a service for financial reasons. In recent years we have found that this has become less of a problem. Money is much easier to access, so important things such as servicing their car has become less of a problem.
Missing a service is false economy !
However a modern safe guard has become the annual MOT Test and servicing. Expressly, the modern way is to have a service when the vehicle is in for its annual MOT test. So, to help drivers, many garages like ourselves. Offer a service and MOT package that is in the financial reach of most card drivers. Of course, this package ensures that things that could be missed due to neglect can be spotted and put to rights.
Including the cars braking system. When the brake pads are not completely worn down then we can advise the car owners and they can be changed before the dreaded grinding noise emanates.
So, when the car is in fir a service/MOT, and we find that the Brake Pads are getting low. Then we report back to the client with an advisory. Of course with the permission of the car owner ! The parts will be changed on the service making the car safe again, and up to scratch. If the owner does not have their vehicle serviced and the Failing Brakes are neglected, then the problem of low pads will then be spread to the other parts, namely the brake discs.
Of course, other brake problems could also occur. Including, seized up brake calipers, or leaking brake cylinders and damaged ABS warning wires.
Failing Brakes problems could have been avoided.
As an example to what I was saying earlier in the article! One lady customer brought her BMW Mini in to us with a Brakes problem. Closely examining the Mini we found that she required discs and pads on the front. Including a set of pads on the rear. The lady could not understand this ! Explaining that she we had only just serviced the car a couple of months previously.
Much surprised! We subsequently,checked the records on our computer system. She was horrified to find that the last service was carried out 18 months ago ! Time had flown by and she had missed her annual service completely. Needless to say that she apologised, paid her bill and went on her way. Of course ,we do send out reminders to our customers, but it had slipped her mind.
I do believe that motorists are becoming more aware and educated about the need for regular car servicing as a preventative measure to Failing Brakes. Especially before the dreaded grinding brake scenario occurs!
Here at Pellon Autocentre, we use top-quality brake parts. because it gives us peace of mind that we are fitting a top-class product. knowing that our customers won’t have problems with their new brake pads.
Your brake pads are one of the most important parts of your car’s braking system. because they are the component that makes contact with the discs. applying pressure and friction to your car’s brake discs. Of course, this is the pressure and friction that are applied to the brake discs.
slowing and stopping your vehicle. How Brake Pads Work
Once your brakes are applied, the pressure from the master cylinder now prevents the wheels from turning and your vehicle from moving. The role of brake pads in how cars work is really simple, but the construction of the brake pads is not.
Did you know that brake pads were once made out of asbestos?
So, asbestos was used to explain how brake pads work. Particularly when I was a young apprentice mechanic. but because of the cancer-causing materials in the pads. Urgently, then, new compounds had to be developed. Nowadays, brake pads are made from a mixture of different compounds. including metallic shavings and non-metallic organic materials. Depending on the manufacturer’s own compound mixes.
The brake pads are compressed onto your brake discs when you press the brake pedal.
The discs are fitted directly to the wheel hubs and the axle; on applying the brake pads, friction is forced upon the disc, causing the wheels to slow and then stop depending on the pressure applied to the pedal. The discs work in unison with the brake pads in order to stop your vehicle.
When will I need new brake pads or discs? How Brake Pads Work
There are many different warning signs that your vehicle will give you before your brakes reach the point of potential failure or extensive repair. The first thing to say is that you should always have your car regularly serviced, including the braking system. This will stop problems before they occur. Car brakes work; brake pads are what they are; replace your brake pads.
How Brake Pads Work
Here are some other things that you should look out for:.
Watch out for your brake warning light coming on when you are driving?
Check or have your garage check your brake fluid level? Do you hear a grinding sound or a squealing sound when you apply the brake pedal? Any feeling of a vibration or some sponginess in the brake pedal when it is pressed? Does your vehicle steer or pull to one side when you apply your brakes?
All these symptoms are the most common signs of potential brake system hazards, and they should be looked at immediately. Of course, they have the potential to cause a lethal accident. Brakes are there to stop your car, and they should not be treated lightly. In a word, if you have them inspected at regular intervals, you will reduce the chances of future safety problems.
2024 Update
Have you ever heard a banging noise or bumping sensation when applying the brakes?
You shouldn’t overlook this kind of noise, particularly when it pertains to something as important as your brakes. Here’s a brief explanation of the possible causes of that bothersome bumping sound coming from those brake pads.
First of all, the brake pads themselves may be unevenly worn. Brake pads deteriorate with time, but if they do so unevenly, the result may be an uneven surface that sounds like bumps as the pads press against the brake disc.
The brake discs, which are the discs that your brake pads clamp onto, could also be the cause. The discs won’t offer the pads a flat surface to grip if it is deformed or has hot patches from heavy braking, which causes that bumping feeling.
Sometimes the problem is as easy as misinstalled or loose brake pads. When you apply the brakes, they may move and make noise if they are not properly positioned in their brackets.
Last but not least, there can be some debris lodged between the discs and the brake pad. This may result in uneven braking as well as noise, which is never a desirable combination.
Therefore, to ensure that everything is in working order, if you hear a bumping sound when you brake, it’s worth taking a look—or, better yet, having a professional take a look. It’s always better to be cautious than sorry when it comes to brakes, after all!
I hope this clarifies for your readers the possible problems that could be causing those annoying bumping sounds!
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