How To Tell When Your Car Needs Brake Repair
The brakes are arguably one of the most important systems on your vehicle, and when you need brake repair, it is not something you want to neglect. When the brakes are making noise you are unfamiliar with, or they feel soft, pulse when braking, or seem less effective than usual, taking the car into a brake repair shop for an inspection is an excellent place to start.
Brake Noise
Noise coming from the brake system when you use them is not normal, and it should prompt you to have the brakes checked. Squealing noises are often a symptom of glazed or hardened brake pads that need replacing but may still be stopping your car. Sometimes the squealing is only present when the brakes get wet, but once you start hearing noise from the brakes, it will often continue until replaced with new pads and shoes.
If the noise changes to grinding, the pads or shoes may be worn through to the metal backing plates and scuff the brake rotors when you apply the brakes. This creates a situation where metal is grinding on metal, which will eventually cause severe damage to parts in the system and can be expensive to repair.
The best solution is to take the car for brake repair when you notice the problem. If the technician catches it early enough, they can fix it before significant damage occurs, saving money and time on repairs.
Brake Vibrations
Vibrations that you can feel in the car when applying the brakes are typically a sign of a problem with the brakes. Often vibrations that worsen as you depress the brakes harder might be caused by a warped or out-of-round rotor in the front end.
The solution can be to turn the rotors on a lathe and square the surfaces, but if the rotors are worn too far, you could need replacement parts for the vehicle. In both situations, the tech at the brake repair shop can determine if the vibrations are coming from the rotors and make repairs quickly.
The vibration may feel like the pedal is pulsating under your foot, and it can be severe enough to cause the front of the car to shake if you step down hard on the brakes. You may find that if you press hard enough, the shake diminishes, but you can't drive in traffic having to slam on the brakes to avoid vibrations.
Most brake shops will inspect the system for you free of charge and show you where your issues are. The service manager can discuss the options for repair with you and how long you can wait to do it, but when dealing with brakes, the soon you make repairs, the better.
For more information on brake repair, contact a professional near you.
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