No Brakes

[fruitsalad]

I used my car for the first time today after 18 days I went to brake at the end of the road and there was nothing there, so I pumped them a few times and luckily they started working, but now there is a sort of grinding noise as I'm driving, does anyone have any ideas what could be wrong?

[carrust]

Worn out brake pads could be one of the problems

[bhg481]

It could just be that the discs are rusty after sitting for 18 days - that should clear itself quickly after a few applications. It's worth checking the fluid level too if they required pumping.

[fruitsalad]

Carrust I did think of that but then although it was mot'd in february this year the car is very seldom used

[fruitsalad]

bhg481 yes I will do that must admit I haven't checked the levels for a while

[carrust]

If the brake pedal went to the floor I'd check the fluid level.

[bhg481]

It's never a bad idea to put your foot hard on the brake as soon as you've started the car - if there's any problems they'll show up then BEFORE you start moving.

[ToraToraTora]

low fluid I'd say. The grindingh is either rust being ground off the disc or the pads have no meat on them.

[fruitsalad]

Just checked fluid levels they are fine, so thats ruled that out, can the rust build up that quickly, if that is the cause

[fruitsalad]

I certainly will be doing that in future bhg481 after that experience this morning, scary to say the least

[carrust]

Was it icy? I've had brake failure when water froze on my discs. It could explain the grinding noise.

[bhg481]

It's only a thin layer of rust on the disc but enough for you to hear the grinding.

[fruitsalad]

Yes this morning was icy and it has been a couple of times since I last used the car

[Old_Geezer]

It wasn't the water fluid level you were supposed to check fs ;-)

[chas2008]

Im assuming the pads had rusted to the disc, just needed some hard braking to free them, quite common on the rear with the handbrake freezing on.
They can rust in a few days with no use, i drive a 64 plate fiesta (1500 miles on the clock) on a daily basis and i can actually hear the front brakes grinding on this.
I believe the logic is to save weight and get extra mpg the manufactures fit less and less sound deadining hence more noticable noises.

[chas2008]

or seized in the caliper due to lack of use.

[fruitsalad]

Update..I found a broken brake pad next to where my car is parked, surely its not just fell of my car while being parked up

[EDDIE51]

You need a mechanic to look at it urgently .Brakes are too important to mess about with. You could have had an accident, injured someone or even been killed!

[TWR]

Fruit, I had a car do the same thing, it turned out that the Pad had come away from the metal (brake pad) It was on the front, I replaced the front pads, Job Done.

[fruitsalad]

I Will definitely be getting a mechanic to look at the brakes, the brake pad which was on the floor beside my car was broken in half, the handbrake released ok methyl, it wasnt until I got to the end of my road and went to brake that I noticed anything was wrong, but then the brakes kicked in again, and I drove on for 4 or 5 miles, surely if the broken pad on the floor next to my car was mine I wouldn't of been able to drive normally and brake ok.