Three Signs You Need Brake Repair
Posted on: 26 December 2018
Your brakes are the most important safety feature in your vehicle, as they are the only component of your car that actually moderates the speed that you are travelling at. Without properly functioning brakes, you are at extreme risk of experiencing a collision, which can cause bodily harm and expensive mechanical repairs. Knowing what a few of the most common indications of brake problems are can help you figure out when you should get in touch with a mechanic.
Noises
One of the most common, and usually also the first, signs that your brakes need to be looked at and repaired by a professional is if you notice that there is a squealing or grinding noise coming from your wheels when you press the brake pedal down. Two things can cause this. First, most modern brake pads have a very thin metal 'wear strip' installed within them, which is designed to create a sound when your brake pads have worn down far enough to warrant replacement as a sort of notification to you to head to a mechanic.
The second reason, which will create a lot more noise and possibly even vibrations, is if your brake pads have worn down so far as to actually cause the brake caliper to come into contact with the wheel. This is a more serious concern that can cause damage to your brake calipers and other components, so you should head to a professional straight away to avoid more expensive repairs.
Pulling
Another relatively common and easy to spot sign that your brakes are in need of being repaired is if you find that your car will pull to the side when you press down on the pedal. This can happen if you've had one of the brake pads repaired but not the other, or if there is some other underlying mechanical reason why one brake pad may have worn down faster than the other. Usually, this can be fixed by replacing both brake pads, ensuring that both sides of your vehicle slow down at the same rate.
Spongy Pedal
You should have a solid feeling from the pedal when you press down on it. Any sort of softness or sponginess, especially if you have to really slam down on the pedal to bring your vehicle to a complete stop, is a serious safety concern and points to the fact that your brake lines have likely sprung a leak, or have some other foreign contaminant besides brake fluid that are negatively affecting your brakes' performance. Having the brake lines flushed or replaced if they're damaged can get everything working properly again.
To learn more, reach out to a brake repair or brake replacement professional.
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