BRAKE REPAIR WARNING SIGNS
So, if there’s no set timetable for your brakes, how do you know when to bring them in for repairs? Technicians should inspect the brake pads, brake lines, rotors, and brake fluid whenever you bring your car in, but what about when you’re on the road? Some signs that your car may need to have its brakes looked at include:
- Squeaky Brakes — Most drivers have heard squeaky brakes before. Believe it or not, that obnoxious sound is actually a friendly reminder from the brake pads that they need to be replaced.
- Pushing the Pedal to the Floor — When your car is low on brake fluid, you may have to push the pedal all the way to the floor before you feel your car slowing down.
- Drifting to the Side — If you find your ride drifting to the same side every time you use the brakes, chances are one of your brake lines is leaking or has some air bubbles in it.
- Grinding Metal Sound — When rotors get cracked or warped, you may hear strange sounds, like grinding metal, when you use the brakes.
- Dashboard Warning Lights — When it comes to your brakes, there are a couple of dashboard lights you should be aware of. If you see the word “BRAKE” while you’re driving, there’s been a malfunction with your main brakes, and you should pull over and call a tow truck. The letters “ABS” mean there’s a problem with your anti-lock braking system. While this isn’t as serious, you should still get it looked at as soon as possible.