Your brakes are one of the most important safety systems in your car because if you can’t stop, you can’t drive around safely, either. New Castle Auto Repair wants to be sure that you know how to recognize brake problems. This can help you avoid a bad situation before it starts because you can get your brakes inspected and repaired quickly before any problems get worse.
Noise While Braking
You really shouldn’t hear anything when you apply the brakes. You might hear a squeak here and there, but nothing should be audible all the time. If you hear grinding sounds, squealing sounds, or anything else that sounds like metal-on-metal contact, you’ve probably worn your brake pads completely out. It’s definitely time to get your brakes inspected.
Pulling to One Side While Braking
Your car should continue to head straight when you’re braking. If it’s pulling to one side when you brake, there can be problems with the brake fluid, with the calipers, or with another part of the brake system. This can be dangerous if you’re used to stopping hard and fast and you suddenly experience an unexpected pull to the side.
Vibration or Wobbling While Braking
When you apply the brakes, your car should begin to slow down and eventually come to a stop smoothly. If you feel wobbling or vibration as you brake, this can mean that there isn’t constant contact between the brake pads and the rotors. This usually happens when the rotors are warped a bit. It can also mean that you have small amounts of debris in the calipers.
The Brake Pedal Feels Soft
It’s never a good sign when you press down on the brake pedal and you feel no pressure in response or the pedal feels especially squishy or soft. This can be a sign that your brake lines have air bubbles in them. There can also be water in the lines, or there may be a leak somewhere that reduces the pressure in the lines. A squishy pedal can also indicate master cylinder failure.
The Brake Light Is On
When your parking brake is engaged, the dashboard will illuminate the Brake light until such time as the parking brake is disengaged. If the light is on and the parking brake isn’t set, the brake system sensor has sent an error code to your automobile’s engine control unit and the unit has turned on the Brake light to alert you of brake system trouble.
New Castle Auto Repair in New Castle, PA, is here for you. Call us today for a brake inspection appointment. We’ll make sure there is nothing wrong with your vehicle’s brakes.