91 olds cutlass ciera

i hear a grinding noise when the car is almost to a stop.it started after a hard braking. could the brakes be going.

 

flirty1
Yes, very likely. Probably front disk brakes? Pretty easy to take a quick look at those, may not even have to pull the wheels (but makes it easier). Run a fingernail acroos the rotor itself, any deep ridges or grooves? If you can see the pads are they evenly worn an both sides of the rotor? If the metal of the pad is touching the rotor, they are shot and you'll prob need new rotors, if its close then prob time for at least new pads.
Rotors run $30-40 ea and pads about $30 per set (2 wheels) per Autozone.

Many brake shops will give free inspections and printed results.

Do you have a regular mechanic?

Do you know when they were replaced last?

BTW I wasn't talking about you being old on the elbow post...just me! lol How's it feeling now?

 

i got the car last year. according to papers i found in the car one set of pads where replaced and both rotors and caliperes were replaced 10/16/04

 

Well, since I'm guessin you might do a lot of stop and go driving (and who knows what the last owner did), might be time for new. Is there a milage on the receipt? And whats the milage now?

 

miles on the brake receipt from 04 read 149,000. current mileage is 174,090.

 

I would expect brakes to go further than that. It might be something else, if the noise is coming from the front. Maybe they only replaced the front, and now the rears are shot.

Without getting it up and pulling wheels off to inspect, not much more I can advise, except take it in for a brake inspection.

 

would it have anything to do with the fact the roters are warped. when i brake the car shakes. would that make them ware out faster. i will take alook. i don't have a lug nut wrench so i will do my best with the wheels on

 

From what I know, yes, warped rotors can wear brakes faster, also other problems, depending on how bad they are. A lug wrench is prob less than $10. I see 'em all the time at yard sales and thrift stores for $1. Jacks as well.

You can also isolate a little further by using the parking/emergency brake at a slow speed, in a safe area, to see if you get the same symptoms.

 

well i managed to get the passenger side front tire off using a standard socket wrench and some leverage. The outside pad still has stuff on it the inside pad is down to the metal . could not get the tire off on the driver side those lugs didn't want to budge.my hands are black now.

 

Take it immediately to a reputable shop for brake inspection and repair. any more driving could be very dangerous and expensive.

life begins when the kids leave home and the dog dies.

 

i plan too. will make some calls and will have it towed.

 

OK had it towed to a shop early today. had them replace both rotors and pads. $181.10.