What to do
My car is making a noise
Car making a noise? What squealing, grinding, knocking and humming usually point to, which ones mean stop driving, and how to get it diagnosed at your address.
A car making a noise tells you a lot from when it happens. Squealing on braking usually means worn pads or a wear indicator. Grinding on braking means the pads are gone and the discs are being damaged, so stop driving. Knocking over bumps points at suspension bushes or drop links. A hum that changes with speed is often a wheel bearing.
| Diagnostic health check | From £150 + VAT |
|---|---|
| Stop driving if | Grinding brakes, or a noise with a warning light |
| Where | Your driveway, home or work |
| Not covered | Roadside recovery |
What to do
- Note when it happens. Braking, turning, over bumps, or with speed. That single detail narrows it enormously.
- Decide whether to keep driving. Grinding brakes and anything accompanied by a warning light mean stop.
- Book an inspection at your address. Most of these are identifiable on your driveway without a ramp.
Car making a noise: what each sound means
| Noise | When | Usually |
|---|---|---|
| High squeal | Braking | Worn pads or a wear indicator |
| Harsh grinding | Braking | Pads gone, discs being damaged. Stop driving. |
| Knock or clonk | Over bumps | Drop links, bushes or a top mount |
| Hum that rises with speed | Driving | Wheel bearing |
| Click or clack | Turning at low speed | CV joint |
| Squeal on start-up | Cold start | Auxiliary belt or tensioner |
| Rattle underneath | Idle or over bumps | Heat shield or exhaust mounting |
When to stop driving
Grinding under braking, any noise accompanied by a warning light, a new noise with a change in steering feel, or a noise that appeared after hitting something. Those combinations mean something is being damaged or is about to fail, and continuing turns a small bill into a large one.
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Questions
Usually worn brake pads, or the wear indicator doing its job. If it turns to grinding, the pads are gone and the discs are being damaged.
Most of them, yes. Brakes, suspension joints, bearings and belts are all identifiable on a driveway. Anything needing a lift gets referred on honestly.
It depends what is knocking. Suspension knocks are usually not immediately dangerous but get worse; anything affecting steering feel should be looked at straight away.
The service you probably need
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