Signs Your Car Brakes Need Servicing
Effective breaks are crucial to not only your safety, but the safety of others on the road. With this being the case, it is important to train yourself to be aware of any irregularities in your ride around town.
Depending only on your dashboard brake light, you may find yourself catching the problem too late. This could result in higher repair costs or the steep price that comes with a brake system replacement. Keep these signs in mind to avoid further damages to your brakes!
Listen for Unusual Sounds
Damages to your car’s brake pads can be realized by listening to your car braking. A high-pitched squeal can be easily heard through rolled up windows if your music is not too loud. Additionally, when your brake pad is reaching its last leg, applying pressure to your brakes can result in a harsh grinding sound. Both these sounds can be detected by simply listening to abnormalities in the performance of your car. If unattended to for too long, this could result in a costly rotor replacement so listen closely!
Feel for Odd Vibrations
Driving on normal, well-paved roads should be a smooth ride. If you notice that your brake pedal seems to be vibrating even when the roads are smooth, there may be an issue with your rotors. Warped rotors occur when the rotors’ surface is uneven. Due to the uneven surface, they will thrum against the brake pads – creating the vibration. Rotors will often begin to warp if they are put under extraneous stress for a long time. However, if you find that you haven’t been putting much stress on your rotors, your wheels may be misaligned.
Feel for Pulling While Driving
If you’re finding that your car is pulling either to the left or to the right when you’re driving or braking, there could be an issue with your car’s brake system. One cause could a stuck caliper in your brake system that is causing your car to pull to the side where it is stuck. Another cause could be a collapsed brake hose that is causing the calipers to move unevenly when braking. A third reason for pulling is the presence of uneven brake pads. This pulling can be the result of other car-related problems so it is a good idea to bring your car to the shop for a conclusive diagnosis.
Feel for Soft/Hard Pedal
When the brake pedal goes down without much pressure, there could be an issue with the hydraulic system – brake fluid leak, air leak, or air in the line. This is known as having a soft pedal. Contrastingly, if you have to push the pedal down really hard to brake, then there may be a brake line obstruction. You could have a hard pedal. Both of these circumstances are dangerous to drive under so get this looked at as soon as possible.
You should not be on the road with faulty brakes. If you start to notice any of these signs, take your car to our shop to get serviced immediately. We would be more than happy to help!
