The biggest sign that you need new brakes is of course to have them completely fail on you. But that’s not how anyone wants to realize that their brakes need repair. SpringMasters Auto Repair has some tips for you so that you can recognize brake issues earlier and therefore get help earlier.
Your Brakes Are Loud
As your brakes wear down, you might hear squealing or grinding sounds when you press the brake pedal. Those sounds can be disconcerting, especially if you haven’t heard them before. This happens because the wear tab is exposed on the brake pad, which is a feature built in to prompt you to get your brakes inspected.
The Brakes Vibrate When You Stop
If you press the brake pedal and you feel vibrations as the car slows down, that’s a possible brake issue, too. Typically, this is happening because the rotor and the brake pad aren’t connecting well, often because of a warped rotor. This is a symptom that is only going to get worse over time rather than better.
The Brakes Pull When You Stop
Something else you might experience when you press the brake pedal is that the car starts to pull to one side or the other. As you let up on the brake, that pull should stop. That’s how you know for certain that this pulling symptom is related to the brakes and not to another part of the car. Again, this is only going to get worse instead of better, so it’s important that you don’t ignore this sign.
It’s Taking a Lot Longer than Usual to Stop
When you press the brake pedal, you have an idea roughly how long it will take your car to respond. You may not realize it, but that’s part of being in tune with your car. If you’re starting to notice that it takes longer than you expect to stop, the problem is likely that your brakes are starting to go and it’s time to get them inspected. This is especially dangerous if you’re in the habit of waiting to the last second to hit your brakes in traffic.
If you’ve started to experience any sort of changes in how your brakes feel or function, don’t wait. Contact us today at SpringMasters Auto Repair in Stickney, IL. We’ll be happy to inspect your car’s brakes for you and let you know what’s happening and what they need.
