I have a 2004 LE and the front left tire/brakes are making a grinding noise. It started off when I would hit the brakes and stop right away when I released them (also didn't happen all the time). It's progressively gotten louder and worse. Now it's doing it every time I use the brakes no matter how hard I press them and somtimes continues doing it after I've released the brakes.

I know it's not the brake pads being gone because I check those and they're fine. I managed to clean out a little rust between the brake drum and the back plate and the noise seemed to stopped for a few days then it started getting worse and worse. There are about 43,000 miles on the car (mostly highway miles). The tires were changed about a month ago, but they are balanced and aligned fine.

Any suggestions before I spend a ton of money taking it to the dealer/mechanic to have it looked at?!?!?!

The caliper may be sticking
or the slide-pins may be rusted, pitted and hanging up

Check the rotors -- most importantly, look for a ridge either near the hub or outer edge of the rotor -- just changing the pads without addressing this ridge (mostly rust) will cause this grinding noise (and less efficient braking) until the pads gain this wear pattern. On some Corollas the pads are smaller than the rotor surface, so they don't wear the rotor consistently. Cutting (resurfacing) the rotors when replacing the pads will cure this. Also make sure that all of the springs and shims are in place on the pads -- they're there to cause the pads to release.

The noise you mention also sounds like CV joint noise -- inspect the suspect axle for a cut or loose CV joint boot -- if the CV joints are ever exposed to water or dirt, and/or the lube is allowed to excape, they're dead dogs.

or you might wanna check if you could wiggle your tire back and forth...and i dont mean in the turning direction...face the tire and pull towards you and push away from you...it could be a bad wheel bearing...and you might also wanna check the top left license plate bolt...if its loose you might wanna tighten it..and since you have a problem with your left fromt tire the left top bolt on your license plate is gonna be loose...gurantee...haha...jokes

I have a 2004 LE and the front left tire/brakes are making a grinding noise. It started off when I would hit the brakes and stop right away when I released them (also didn't happen all the time). It's progressively gotten louder and worse. Now it's doing it every time I use the brakes no matter how hard I press them and somtimes continues doing it after I've released the brakes.

I know it's not the brake pads being gone because I check those and they're fine. I managed to clean out a little rust between the brake drum and the back plate and the noise seemed to stopped for a few days then it started getting worse and worse. There are about 43,000 miles on the car (mostly highway miles). The tires were changed about a month ago, but they are balanced and aligned fine.

Any suggestions before I spend a ton of money taking it to the dealer/mechanic to have it looked at?!?!?!I'd bet it's the pads and rotors...........:grinyes:

If they are original, it's time to replace...........:2cents: