7 Signs Your Car Needs Auto Brake Repairs

What’s more important – your brake or your gas pedal? The answer is “it depends”. Your car is a machine with multiple systems working together to safely transport you from your starting point to your destination. Your brakes are critically important. Do not put yourself, your passengers or others that you share the road with at risk. Your car’s performance may diminish slowly over time. Will you notice if your car needs a slightly longer distance to stop? Those few extra feet could be the difference between an accident or a near miss. However, there are some warning signs you need auto brake repairs, including:

Squealing or grinding sound when braking

Metal grinding on metal when braking is usually an indicator that your brake pads are worn. To avoid further damage to your brake calipers, discs, or other parts of your brake system, schedule a brake inspection as soon as possible.

Brake check indicator light

Newer cars have electronics to compare performance to factory specifications. For example, if your brake pedal travels further than expected, your brake light might illuminate. This indicates that further diagnosis is needed and you’ll need to visit your mechanic.

Wobbling when you apply the brakes

If your car shakes or vibrates when you brake, it is probably an indicator of a warped rotor. Because stopping pressure is not being applied evenly, braking distances lengthen. You’ll need to schedule a replacement to improve performance.

 Leaking Brake Fluid

If you notice fluid spots where you park, monitor your car performance. The more brake fluid you leak, the more braking power you lose. You’ll need to schedule an auto brake repair service with a qualified repair shop to fix this.

Veering

If your car suddenly veers to one side, it indicates that one side of your braking system is operating much better than the other. This may be a sign that one of your calipers is malfunctioning. This is another situation that needs to be addressed immediately.

Car Pulling to One Side

When your brakes are working correctly, you should stop in a straight line. Pulling to one side or the other? You probably have uneven pad wear, dirty brake fluid, or debris in your brake system. Do not allow this to languish. You have the most control over your car when you can predict how it will react.

Soft Brake Pedal

If you low brake fluid or air in your brake line, your pedal may feel spongy or soft when you press the brakes. This may require routine maintenance or may indicate something more serious. Either way, it will need to be checked to determine if auto brake repairs are needed.

Conclusion

Your steering wheel is not part of your brake system. However, feedback, such as more turning effort, increased wheel travel or wobbling should not be ignored. You, the operator, are the most important part of a car; you are responsible for the safety of others that you share the road with and your passengers. Get in the habit of tracking your car’s performance.

Schedule auto brake repairs when you notice diminished performance, strange noises or other unexpected indicators. Addressing troubling indicators sooner rather than later will help you avoid more costly repairs. At Fred’s Auto Repair, the safe operation of your vehicle is among the top priorities of our ASE certified mechanics. We will carefully check your pads, calipers, rotors, fluid levels, and braking performance to assure that your car operates as well as its can.