‘My car makes a grinding sound on the front driver’s side, any ideas?’
The Car Doc weighs in.
Boston.com Cars is your go-to resource for coverage of local car news, events, and reviews. In the market for a car or truck? Check out our new car specials and used car specials curated by our local dealer network.Q:
My car has a grinding sound on the front driver’s side when I apply the brakes. The brake pads are fine on all four wheels. My mechanic has looked it over and given up. The issue is, this doesn’t happen all the time.
A: The brakes may be fine, but when the brakes are being applied, the suspension could be shifting enough to make a noise. Give the suspension a careful inspection by looking at all of the bushings. If a control arm bushing is worn, you could be getting a metal on metal grinding noise when you apply the brake, especially on turns.
John Paul, AAA Northeast’s Car Doctor, answers questions from drivers every week. He has 40+ years of experience in the automotive business and is an ASE certified master technician.
