Odd brake sounds -- like a shovel running over cement
 

Hi all -- first off, I just had my brakes replaced last fall. Last week I noticed a strange sound when I was almost at a complete stop, like if you were to run the tip of a shovel along the cement -- though I see nothing underneath the car. It was at first very intermittent, but today it is now everytime I brake (though the noise only starts the last few seconds before I am completely stopped). I also noticed last week a couple of times my brakes seemed to "lock-up" a bit -- though no weather conditions (once when going down a pretty steep hill). The first appointment I could get at my garage is a week from wed so I thought I would stop in here first for some advice and/or assurance that my brakes aren't about to give out on me! Thanks anyone who has had a look!

If it is coming from the rear then it could be your emergency brake is out of adjustment and it is rubbing. You only hear it when almost stopped because road noise is reduced. It could also be a disc brake shoe out of alignment although I doubt it.

Thanks for the response -- it is coming from the rear. And that sounds like it'll be ok to drive if just a bit annoying. I did use my e-brake on Saturday so maybe I shifted it further and that's why it's happening more today.

Could be lots of things, but I recently had a similar problem with my V70 GLT, and it turned out to be the Emergency Brake media falling out. It is no longer there. ;)