my brakes started squeaking in the fall and i decided to try to wait till the spring to fix it since i was at school. eventually the squeaking got worse and it became a grinding sound coming from the rear passenger wheel. i've also noticed a lot of rust on the rim on the wheel that grinds. i figured i would have to replace the pads and rotors but today when i was driving it something happened and the sound totally stopped. it almost felt like the brakes locked up. even at very slow speeds (5mph) my car would squeal its tires to stop. i went home as soon as i could and checked out the wheel and noticed it was very hot and smelled like something burning. i guess my question is what else can get messed up besides the rotors from brake wear and tear? and is my car safe to drive somewhere to get it fixed?

 

To answer your question, plenty of things can go wrong...:eek3: To not replace the pads was an unwise decision. The squeaking you heard earlier was the wear indicators built into the pads...they're designed that way for a reason- to let you know the pads need to be replaced pronto.

It sounds like you've worn the pads through the backing, and this should be avoided at all cost. The rotors are probably deeply scored now, and will probably need replacement. You may have also damaged the seals on the caliper piston, which will only further increase the cost of repair.

From what you've told me, the car is not safe to drive at all. Given the circumstances, and my estimation of your abilites... I'd recommend having the car towed to your mechanic for the requisite repairs.