Grinding Noise When Driving: Causes, What to Do

Do you hear a grinding or scraping noise coming from your car’s undercarriage while driving? Not only is the sound annoying, but it can also indicate a problem that compromises overall vehicle safety. You’ll want to find out what’s causing the noise so that you can fix the issue right away.

What Causes a Grinding Noise When Driving? 4 Common Causes

Unfortunately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer as to why you might be hearing a grinding noise from your car’s undercarriage while driving. To determine the root cause of the concern, you (or your mechanic) will need to do some troubleshooting.

Once you start to dig in, there’s a good chance you’ll find the noise coming from one of the following sources.

Worn Brake Pads or Shoes

Brake pads and shoes help create the friction needed to bring your car to a stop. In a disc brake system, the pads are pressed against a disc-shaped rotor to halt the vehicle. When a drum brake system is used, shoes are pushed outward against a circular drum to create the same effect.

Severely worn brake pads or shoes can create a grinding noise while driving. The problem happens when the brakes are worn down to the backing plates (or wear indicators), allowing for constant contact with the drum or rotor.

Rusted Rotors

When a vehicle sits for an extended period, the surface of the rotors will accumulate rust. The rust can cause the brakes to make a grinding noise whenever the car is in motion. Usually, the noise goes away quickly, as the rust gets cleared off by the brake pads each time the brakes are applied.

Bent Backing Plate

Drum and disc brake systems both use backing plates. The backing plates are located behind the brakes to shield the braking components from water and debris. In a drum brake system, each backing plate also provides a mounting point for the brake shoes and related components.

Because backing plates are made of thin metal, they can easily get bent. When that happens, the backing plate then contacts the rotor (in a disc brake system), creating a grinding noise. It’s also possible for the backing plate to contact the drum in a drum brake system, though the issue is far less common.

Bad Wheel Bearing

Your car has a wheel bearing (or axle bearing) at each wheel. Each wheel bearing allows one of the wheels to rotate with minimal friction. The wheel bearings also help support the weight of the vehicle.

When a wheel bearing starts to go bad, it often makes a growling or humming noise when the vehicle is in motion. If the faulty bearing is left unchecked, it will usually begin to make a grinding sound.

You’ll notice that the frequency of the sound corresponds to the rotation of the tires. Also, the sound will increase with vehicle speed (though it may go away at a certain point) and may get louder when turning in one direction or the other.

FAQ

Is it safe to drive with a grinding noise?

A grinding noise can indicate a safety concern, such as worn-out brakes or a bad wheel bearing. As such, you’ll want to address the problem right away to ensure your vehicle remains safe and dependable.

How do I fix a grinding noise when driving?

Because a variety of problems can cause a grinding noise while driving, you (or your mechanic) will need to do some troubleshooting to get to the bottom of the problem.

Below, you’ll find a few steps that you can take to help diagnose the concern. If you’re unsure of where the noise is coming from, you might need to repeat each step at all four corners of the vehicle.

1. Perform a visual inspection: The first step is to safely raise and support the vehicle, remove the wheel/tire assembly, then perform a visual inspection. You’ll want to look for signs of the backing plate contacting the rotor, rusted rotors, and other obvious issues.

2. Check the brake pads or shoes: Next, remove the caliper or drum to inspect the brake pads or shoes. Be on the lookout for brakes that are worn down to the backing plate or wear indicator. You’ll also want to check for friction material that’s crumbling or flaking off, which can also be the source of a grinding noise.

3. Inspect the wheel bearings: The final step is to inspect the wheel bearings. You can learn more about wheel bearing diagnosis by reading this article.

Once you find the cause of the noise, you can perform the necessary repairs to fix the problem.

Where to Get Replacement Parts for Your Vehicle

As mentioned, the grinding noise you hear when driving could stem from various issues within the braking system. You must identify and repair or replace the part that’s causing the noises before it could give way to bigger issues and heftier bills at the repair shop. Lucky for you, CarParts.com has you covered.

Choose from our wide selection of replacement parts that come at competitive prices. All our products are on hand and ready to ship from a warehouse near you, so you can get your order in as fast as two business days.

On top of that, we source our parts from leading manufacturers to give you only the best options. We’re confident you’ll find the suitable part for your car. But to give you the peace of mind to buy parts online, we have a refund policy that lets you get your money back within 60 days of purchase.

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