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?
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.