Grinding noise while driving

[caveman017]

Being a college student really has made me the DIY kind of person. Anyways, I was planning on replacing my brake pads over summer after I got home. On my way home this weekend, I start to hear a slight grinding noise near my front right. At highway speeds, its not really noticeable, but just when I was on the way home through the neighborhoods, it became pretty loud. I wasn't able to take the wheel off (the bolts are too tight, so I'll need to get a new wrench) , but through the wheels, it doesn't look like the rotor is badly scraped or anything.

Any ideas if its just the brake pads worn down?

[Novice_cardude]

A couple questions to narrow things down a bit for me and the other folks here:

Does it only made the sound when you are on the brakes? If it's a constant grinding with your foot off the brakes, it's probably not low pads.

Does the noise change with the transmission in neutral/clutch depressed?

Does the sound change while turning either direction?

Also even if you can't get the wheels off, raise the front of the vehicle, put the transmission in neutral, and spin the wheels to see if you can duplicate the noise.

[caveman017]

It doesn't matter if the brakes are on or not. I originally noticed that the car was "sticking" when my foot went off of the brake pedal ( almost like having your car in drive with the parking brake slightly on), which I assumed was the brakes.

I didn't really pay attention to the turning aspect.

It makes the noise when in neutral as well.

[JohnGD]

Sticking caliper?

[caveman017]

When I take the wheel off and change the pads (I assume this is minimal tool requirements?) it will unstick?

[Camry LE 94]

this is not much of any help but i had the same issue with my 96 I4 when I first purchased it. the one wheel would make a grinding noise... I never found out what was causing it, but it eventually went away on its own. it's probably nothing to worry about, unless there is some kind of drastic indication that there is something wrong.

[Rattlin_Steele]

Originally Posted by caveman017

When I take the wheel off and change the pads (I assume this is minimal tool requirements?) it will unstick?

Assuming it's a stuck caliper it will likely unstick when you compress it during a pad change, but you really need to determine why it stuck in the first place because it's likely to re-occur. A sticking caliper often makes the car pull to that side and if it's stuck badly, cause a violent shaking and overheat the rotor bigtime causing it to warp.

I've had a pad crack before, which acted a bit like you describe.

[caveman017]

Well it ended up being the caliper stuck. I took a lot (i mean a lot) of pressure and force to get the thing to retract once off.

When I got the wheel off, found out that the pads had burnt through and my rotor was trashed (especially the inside!). $45 later for a new rotor and pads and I'm back in business.

One problem though. It seems that the wheel / new rotor are burning hot when driving around, while my other wheel isn't. I'm assuming the caliper is still the culprit?

[carsrus]

Yeah change that caliper asap before it eats through your new pads

[73sport]

Yeah change that caliper asap before it eats through your new pads and Rotor!
^^ + 10

make that +20 if you do them both and flush the system real good. Drums in back or disc?