So I was driving the 7 when there was a loud *chunk* when I hit the breaks hard. A grinding sound started up, so I dropped the break pedal and grabbed the e-brake and pull off the road. I take a look at everything that I can with the scissor jack that I had on me. Brake disks are clean, no marring or scratching no damage that I can see anywhere. I put the car back down, roll it a bit and tap the brakes. Just the grinding sound comes back and it comes only from the front passenger side. E-brake works well enough and its getting dark, so I drive the car back home and park it.

Jacking it up in a bit brighter environment I can't see any obvious sources for the sound. The brakes do in fact work, spinning a tire by hand and hitting the brake stops the wheel with no sound, but I assume this is because the brake isn't trying to stop the whole car, just a little wheel. Could I have blown a break cylinder/caliper? I have no idea what could be causing the problem without just taking things apart till I find what's broken. If anyone could point me in the right direction, this would be a huge help for me.

 

It kinda sounds like you have a pad that has came loose from it,s back up plate . I would remove the wheel in question and check the pads . Me thinks that you have one that has come loose .. If that is the case they should all be redone at least the front sets. let us know what you find . Gerald m.

 

Yep. Or, the entire pad might have slid out of position. You're going to have to determine which wheel it is, then remove the wheel and take a look. I had a pad slide out of position on an old Datsun Maxima once. Not sure if it is possible with the Mazda, but certainly worth taking a look.

Good luck....




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the disc pads were completely worn down when my g/f's car did that

.....that's how she became my g/f, everyone asked , "what dies she see in him?"

......answer was "a brake job"

.......and I never even got that >>>other kind of job<<< out of it.

 

Yup, pad had dislocated a bit. It was still there, and I didn't notice it was out of place until I took the caliper off. Lost one of the little springs holding in the pad, but I have spares. Thanks for the advice.

 

Nice when it's an easy fix . maybe might be good idea to check the rest and make sure everything is there and where it's suppose to be . Good brakes save lives in anyone's book .