Given a customer concern of "grinding noise when braking," the technician should perform

• A. Immediate replacement of pads
• B. Road test only
• C. A visual inspection before making repairs
• D. Check tire pressure

Answer: (C)

When a customer reports grinding noise during braking, the first step is a visual inspection of the brake system. This allows you to quickly assess what’s happening and identify obvious issues like worn brake pads, scoring or damage on the rotors, loose or missing hardware, or foreign debris caught between components. By checking pad thickness, rotor condition, caliper operation, and hardware integrity, you can determine the correct repair approach—whether that’s replacing pads, resurfacing or replacing rotors, or fixing a stuck caliper or loose parts. This method prevents guessing and helps ensure a safe, cost-effective fix.

Road testing alone won’t reveal the underlying cause; it might confirm there’s a problem but not why it’s occurring. Checking tire pressure is not relevant to diagnosing brake grinding and won’t address the noise.