Hey all, I have problem that just developed with my 2002 GS300. When I apply the brakes the car brakes fine until I come to VERY low speeds (almost stopped). It makes a metal grinding sound from my passenger side rear wheel. Sounds like two pieces of raw metal grinding against eachother...only happens when I'm almost at a complete stop. Brakes are silent otherwise.
When I accellerate away after this happens, I still hear the sound slightly and when I tap the brake, it goes away again. I searched and people seemed to have had similar problems but I don't think mine is associated with the brakes themselves (new pads and rotors on the car last fall). I think it may be something attached to the brakes....any ideas? It's so loud, people in the cars next to me with their windows rolled down look over at me when they hear it.

 

It has to be your Rotor grinding. Even tho it was replaced last fall its a possibility. I had the same issue and it was my rotor.

 

Check the lug nuts, make sure they're torqued to 76 ft. lbs. They are all that holds the rotor solidly in place. If they check out, then jack up that corner of the car and spin the wheel around a few times to see if you locate the noise. Your description does sound like one of the brake components have worn out already, most likely the pads. Another thought, once I had a small rock wedge between the rotor and pads, awful sounding and how it got there is beyond me. Good Luck!

 

Check pads and rotors, sounds like the bare metal of worn pads grinding against the rotors. The rotors probably have to be resurfaced now. Happened to me a few years ago.

 

its probably your brake pads wearing down to the metal, or your rotors are warped, or maybe the caliper's pistons are seized?

Gotta have them visually inspected..

 

two above replies sound about right

 

Thanks for the replies everyone. If it was pads or rotors, wouldn't this sound be evident everytime I brake at any speed? It only happens when the car is barely moving....almost to a complete stop. When I take off from a stop, I can still hear something slightly grinding and when I tap the brakes, it goes away. Strange.....

 

hey prock i think the best thing to do is to go to a Brake Check if you have those in your area or any other places that do checks for free and have them find out what the problem is. Then you can decide what to do once they find it.

My local brake check actually pointed out my balljoint problem during a brake inspection

 

Yes and No. Yes if the brakes are shot, we talking metal to metal. No if they are giving you the early warning sign.

 

damn im having the same issue. takin it to the dealer.

 

I had this EXACT symptom yesterday on my way to work. Braking was almost silent until nearly stopped, and then the growling noise would emerge, and get quite loud. When accelerating, I heard a bit of scraping/ticking, and then silent again. Repeat at every stop.

At work, I looked through the wheel opening at the rotor, and noticed grind marks on the outside of the rotor. Bought some pads on the way home, took out the old ones, and sure enough, the pads were down to almost nothing, and one was metal on metal with rotor. Replaced pads, all is quiet again. So I almost guarantee that you have the same problem.

As an aside, I was wondering why the stupid wear indicators didn't kick in, and then realized that they did, but the darn car is too quiet with the windows rolled up, and so I never heard them . I guess I need to have a better ear next time!

 

worn brake pads, warped rotors, seized pistons, or bad wheel bearing.

 

For search reference, I replaced the pads and rotors and the grinding went away completely No more embarassing grinding sound when I brake in front of a group of people crossing the street

 

 

Check the brake hardware. I had that happen on one of my other cars and it was one of the clips on the backing pad that was too long from the factor scraping on the rotor. I just clipped that off and the sound went away.