
The solution for stones getting into the brake disc: Accelerate the car and then slam on the brakes, then reverse and slam on the brakes again, repeating this cycle several times should resolve the issue. If it still doesn't work or if you're concerned about the car, it is recommended to go to a repair shop or a 4S store. The main components of a car's braking system include the vacuum booster pump, master brake cylinder, wheel brake cylinder, brake pads, and brake disc. After opening the engine hood, you can see a black metal disc on the driver's side, which is the vacuum booster pump. In front of the vacuum booster pump, there is an oil reservoir for holding brake fluid, and below the oil reservoir is the master brake cylinder. When the driver presses the brake pedal, the vacuum booster pump provides assistance, helping the driver to press the brake pedal. The master brake cylinder then uses the brake fluid to push the wheel brake cylinder, which in turn pushes the brake pads to clamp the brake disc.

When I suddenly hear a ticking sound from the brake discs while driving, I always pull over first. I shift to neutral, engage the handbrake, and then crawl under to check if there's a small stone stuck between the tires. If something is stuck, I use a screwdriver or a branch to gently poke the gap in the brake disc shield, but never force it—bending the shield would cause bigger trouble. If I don’t have tools handy, I’ve tried slowly moving the car back and forth to let the stone fall out on its own; sometimes small stones spin a few times and get flung away. After clearing it, I lightly press the brakes a few times to test if the noise is gone. If there’s still a metal grinding sound, it’s time to visit the repair shop—it might mean the brake pads have worn grooves. The best prevention is slowing down when driving on gravel roads.

Once when picking up my child from school, I heard a ticking sound from the front left wheel, which scared me into immediately turning off the music. At times like this, never slam on the brakes! Quickly turn on the hazard lights and pull over, but remember the tire will be extremely hot—wait at least ten minutes. When I crouched down to check, sure enough, there was a peanut-sized stone stuck behind the brake disc. I carefully used the handle of a folding comb from my bag to pry it out, which took about five minutes. Later, a mechanic told me I could have shifted into reverse and slowly moved the car to let the underguard scrape the stone off. For new cars within six months, it's best to go straight to the dealership—they can remove the wheel and fix it in three minutes, usually for free. Now, whenever I drive past construction sites, I habitually rest my foot lightly on the brake pedal, ready to tap it twice if I hear any unusual noises.

An experienced mechanic taught me a trick: when you hear metal scraping sounds, maintain a speed of 20 mph and quickly turn the steering wheel left and right. This will help the brake dust shield squeeze out the trapped stone. If that doesn't work, you must remove the tire - never try to pry it out forcefully! After removing the wheel, using long-nose pliers to extract the stone through the ventilation slots is the safest approach. Remember to test by driving a couple of laps and braking hard several times after handling it. Last month, my neighbor tried prying with a screwdriver and ended up scratching the brake disc, costing over a thousand dollars to replace. Actually, small stones under 3mm in diameter usually wear away naturally after a few hundred kilometers of driving. Only persistent sharp noises require immediate attention.


