When your 2020 Ford Explorer makes a scraping noise while driving - even without brake application - something is contacting the wheel or brake rotor as it rotates. This constant scraping indicates a component is positioned where it shouldn't be or has worn into contact.
Brake Dust Shield Contact
The dust shield behind the brake rotor is a common scraping culprit. This thin metal shield can bend from debris impact, parking mishaps, or accumulated rust, causing it to contact the rotor. The scraping is typically constant and may have a rhythmic pattern matching wheel rotation.
Brake Pad Wear Indicators
Many brake pads include metal tabs designed to scrape against the rotor when pad material wears thin. This intentional warning sound alerts drivers to needed brake service. The scraping may be constant or intermittent depending on indicator design and how close to worn-out the pads are.
Debris Caught in Brakes
Rocks, road debris, or broken pieces of rusted components can become caught between the brake pad and rotor, creating scraping sounds. This debris may eventually dislodge or embed itself, changing the sound character over time.
Parking Brake Component
The Explorer's rear brake parking mechanism can develop scraping if components wear or adjust incorrectly. This may occur whether or not the parking brake was recently used and creates a scraping sound from the rear wheels.
Wheel Bearing Issues
While wheel bearings more commonly cause humming or grinding, severe bearing failure can allow the wheel assembly to shift position, potentially causing the rotor to contact the dust shield or brake components to contact the wheel.
Rust After Sitting
After a vehicle sits for extended periods, surface rust develops on brake rotors. The first several brake applications scrape this rust off, creating temporary scraping sounds. This typically resolves after normal driving.