Where would you be without your brakes? In serious trouble, that’s for sure. New Castle Auto Repair services and repairs automotive brake systems of all types to make sure that our customers can always stop their vehicles when they need to. Few things are more frightening than losing your brakes, and here are signs that tell you that you’re on your way to having this exact thing happened.
Brake Warning Light
Your brake warning light is your brake light on the dashboard, and this light should only come on when you set your parking brake. If it comes on at any other time, the brake system sensors have sent an error code to your engine control module to indicate that there is something wrong with the brake system. You may also end up with an ABS warning light to indicate that your antilock brake system is malfunctioning.
Grinding, Scraping, or Squealing Noises
Braking should be silent. You should never hear grinding or scraping. If you do, your brake pads have worn down to their backings and you are rubbing metal against metal every time you depress the brake pedal. Squealing noises can also indicate that your brake pads need to be replaced or, even worse, that your brakes are overheating.
Hot Chemical or Carpet Smells
Alongside squealing noises, you will smell hot chemical or carpet smells if your brakes are overheating. The hot chemical smells mean that your brake fluid is too hot and you are on the verge of losing your brakes. Hot carpet smells mean that your brake pads have glazed.
Leaking Brake Fluid
Brown spots underneath your car next to your tires can indicate that your brake fluid is leaking out of the system. The reason why you see criminals cut brake lines in the movies and on television is that the brakes cannot stop without brake fluid. Have any brake fluid leaks found and fixed as soon as possible.
Pulling or Vibrations When Braking
If your automobile pulls to one side or vibrates when you apply the brakes, you might have a rock stuck in one of the calipers, your rotors may be warped, or there may be a problem with one of the brake pads. Your braking should be smooth and you shouldn’t feel any vibrations or pulling when you apply the brakes.
Squishy Brake Pedal That Sinks
Finally, you likely have power brakes on your automobile which means that your brake pedal should stop about 1 1/2 inches from your vehicle’s floor. If the pedal acts squishy or sinks to the floor, you probably have air in the brake lines or your master cylinder could be failing.
New Castle Auto Repair works very hard to be the best auto repair shop in New Castle, PA. You can count on us to find your brake system problems and fix them.