Do you have a vehicle that's started making strange noises? Are you wondering if the issue is something urgent or something that can be put off temporarily? In general, a car shouldn't be making any abnormal noises when you drive it around. Doing so is often an urgent matter, so it's a good idea to try to figure out what's wrong so that you can decide if your vehicle an appointment at your mechanic or if you should take it in immediately. Some of the most common causes for your car to start making strange noises include:

Grinding/thumping: As your brake pads start to wear out, they will be worn down to a section of material that is specially designed to make an audible noise or feeling when the brakes are applied. You may or may not be able to connect the noise to the brakes at first because it can start out subtle. While your brakes aren't quite gone just yet, they don't have much life left in them at all. It's a good idea to schedule a new brake installation as soon as possible in order to avoid brake failure.

Squealing: Squealing can be another sign that you're in need of a brake installation, but brakes aren't necessarily the only reason why your car is squealing. Your vehicle may also be squealing because it's low on transmission fluid. If it's been a while since you put any fluid in, this may be a natural phenomenon. But if you've put fluid in recently, this can indicate a serious leak that needs to be checked out as soon as possible. Ignoring the issue could mean that you lose power steering completely at an inopportune moment, which could result in an accident. 

Scraping: A scraping noise, especially when you stop your car, can make it seem like you need a brake installation; but this isn't always the case. If you drive over gravel roads, or even just over a rough parking lot, it's possible for a small rock to get trapped behind your brake rotors. If not remedied, this can result in serious damage to your vehicle. Fortunately, it's a relatively easy fix for an experienced brake technician to perform, so it should take less than half an hour for them to fix. You may be able to remove the rock yourself if you are so inclined, but it's still a good idea to get your brakes and rotors checked out by a professional to ensure that there has been no damage to your vehicle.

Contact a mechanic service, like G P Automotive, for more help.