My brakes are making a grinding noise, like metal on metal. It's not happening only when I brake, so I don't know that it's my brake pads or rotors. It happens when I am sitting still, too, and just pump the brakes. What could it be?

 

if they're grinding it means your down to the rivets that bond the pads. Go the safe route. get performance pads and rotors for about $500.00 and install them yourself...With brakes never settle for the cheap fix, your mustang deserves the best you can provide!

 

You dont need performance rotors. If u want to upgrade just get some nice pads.

But id change ur brakes and check the slide pins to make sure they arnt binding up and listen to the caliper when u compress the cylinder to see if thats making any noise

 

If it's the calipers making the noise, will it still need new pads?

 

take out the pads and see if they're the culprit. i've never heard of a grinding while sitting still, but since pads are the easiest place to start, do that first. if the pads don't have anything left on em, that could be your problem. either way, you're gonna hafta start by replacing the pads and rotor, and i would suggest replacing all your other pads too, and probably the other rotor across from the one you're replacing. and don't bother with "performance rotors" if you're not doing auto-x. just get OEM blanks, they're more than adequate for daily driving and your occasional drag racing.

 

wow...I am having the same noise when i apply brake whether rolling OR sitting still..Kinda sounds like a springy metal noice..

 

Sounds like the clips on the pads, sometimes they rust and brake off the back pad. OP: Before getting all fired up and getting a thousand speculations simply check to make sure the pads have meet all you need to do is pop the wheel off.

 

If the pads and rotors are fine and you don't replace either of the two items you can just replaced the caliper and be fine.

 

I had the same kind of noise, except t really only did it when I used the brakes and starting out from a stop. Turns out one of my calipers was stuck and all of pads needed replaced, and all four of my rotors had cracks in them. I would suggest either taking it a brake specialist with the expertise in brake problems (as the Ford dealership didn't notice my cracked rotors and Pep Boys saw them immediately) to get them checked for stuck calipers or cracked rotors, or of course if you know how to check, check it out yourself!

 

sounds like it's a good excuse for Cobra brakes.