Signs That You Need to Replace Your Brakes

Imagine yourself cruising down in your vehicle on a beautiful highway at a considerable speed, and you have to suddenly step on it and halt. What if your car does not stop in time? As scary as the thought might be, it is a very crucial aspect of car maintenance – the brakes. Not only do they save your car from damage but also save your life if you happen to be in an accident. That is why it is essential to know how they function and to identify when they are running into need for replacement.

 

How Do Brake Pads Function?

Brake pads make up the most vital part of your vehicle’s braking system. They are attached to the brake drum on the internal side, and on the external, they connect to your brake shoe which is the part that clamps down onto the wheel to slow the rotation of the tires. Brakes are a part of a hydraulic mechanism that drives to slow the vehicle down when applied. With ineffective brake pads, the discs and rotors also tend to wear away, not to mention unsafe driving conditions.

 

Signs to Look Out For

When we brake, the friction causes the brake pads to slowly wear down as they protective coating sheds away. It is important to realise when their replacement is long overdue. You can know this by looking and listening carefully to some signs for car maintenance. Going in for a brake replacement each year is a good idea.

 

Brake Light On – Today’s cars have fancy electronics and sensors which help you detect maintenance problems which you couldn’t do in the yesteryears. There is an indicator light which pops up on the dashboard that will alert you that it is time to replace the brakes. You should read the manual to confirm and get your mechanic to do a checkup.

Grinding/Growling Sounds – if you notice that your car is making a growling sound when it is coming to a halt, it indicates that your brake pads are completely worn down. The noise is a result of the padding between the metal of callipers and the metal of the rotors having worn out, due to which these metals grind against each other causing damage. Premature to this stage if you listen well, your vehicle starts making a squealing sound, post which, you can get your pads changed to avoid further wearing out.

Vibration – The worst things to encounter when you are braking is if your car vibrates on the application of brakes. Make sure you get this inspected. Rotors become warped and uneven, or if the rotor has gathered rust or moisture which makes the brakes slip. Either your pads or your discs would get replaced in this case.

Don’t Just Drive – look, listen and feel if your brakes are in trouble for you to stay out of trouble.

 

Timely brake replacement might just be what your car needs. Call in our brake replacement experts today and stay safe on the roads.