Out of all the vehicle maintenance items on the checklist, maintaining your brakes is critical. Brakes that fail or malfunction put both your safety and vehicle at high risk.
In most cases, failing brakes happen gradually, giving you time to get them repaired in order to prevent a collision, injury, or further damage to your vehicle. While we appreciate your business, we don’t want you to cause an unnecessary accident.
Here are some warning signs that mean it’s time to get your brakes checked or replaced.
Indicator Light
In newer vehicles, the brake indicator light will come on warning you that there’s a problem with the brakes.
Don’t ignore this warning light. Schedule an appointment to get the brakes inspected as soon as you can.
Braking Delays
If it takes your vehicle longer to brake or they feel “mushy,” it’s time to schedule a service appointment.
Squealing Noise
If there is a noticeable squealing noise while driving but stops when you brake, it could be time for brake pad replacement. The sound comes from worn brake pads rubbing against the rotors.
Clicking Noise
Clicking noises may indicate loose brake pads and need an immediate inspection.
Grinding Noise
A grinding noise indicates worn brake linings, which provide friction protection between the rotors and brake pads.
Vehicle Pulls to One Side
If your vehicle pulls to one side as you brake, it’s an indicator that your brake pads are wearing unevenly. Continuing to drive can result in further damage to your vehicle affecting the steering mechanism or ball joints.
Burning Smell
If you notice a burning smell when braking, it’s an indication that your braking system is overheating. Continuing to drive will cause further damage to your braking system, specifically to your brake line.
Damage to the brake line can result in complete brake failure, which is incredibly dangerous.
Leaking Brake Fluid
There are a lot of different fluids that can leak from a vehicle, but brake fluid looks much like vegetable oil. If you see a light brown, golden or yellow fluid leak, schedule a service appointment.
Conclusion
To stay safe, you should check your brakes every 5,000 miles or during a maintenance inspection.
At the end of the day, problems with your brakes are nothing to take lightly or ignore. You simply can’t afford to take chances and should schedule a service appointment even if you’re not sure what the problem is.
When it comes to restoring your vehicle to like-new condition due to brake-related alignment issues we can recommend a quality repair shop. For auto body repair needs, give the experts at Downtown Autobody in Rohnert Park, CA a call today.