The brakes of a vehicle are among the most important parts of any car. When your brakes are working properly they are what keep you safe, help to avoid getting into accidents and generally keep your city travel experience pleasant. While brakes are designed to last a long time, they do wear down and eventually may need to be replaced. This can be dangerous if you haven’t had your brakes checked in a long time. If you don’t know whether your brakes need to be replaced or not then maybe it’s time for a check-up. Fortunately, there are four signs that could point to the need for a new set of brakes.
Brake Light On
The first sign that something is wrong with your brakes is if your brake light is on. The brake light on your dashboard is there to warn you if there are any current issues. When you get in the car and notice that a brake light has turned on you should definitely take your car in for repairs. If your brake light or any other light is on, you should seek out auto repair services to determine the reason why the light is on. A repair service can provide a full vehicle evaluation and then make any repairs necessary. This is a really easy way to know if your brakes need to get checked. However, the brake light doesn’t always turn on when there are issues with your brakes and the next few things may be more telling ways to determine if you need to get your brakes checked.
Less Responsiveness
Another sign that you should bring your car in for brake service and inspection is if your brakes seem less responsive. Brakes being less responsive can be dangerous for you and those driving around you. If you notice that your brakes are not reacting as quickly when you press down on the pedal, it is a sign of an underlying problem. The technician will be able to determine whether it is an issue with your brakes or simply the pedal. Anytime that you feel the brakes just aren’t functioning as quickly that is a good sign they need to be looked at by a professional. Drive extra carefully if your brakes are less responsive and keep a good distance between yourself and the car in front of you while you are heading to the shop to get this looked at.
Grinding Sounds
According to Legacy Auto, a car repair service in Boulder, CO, if you noticed squeaking or grinding in your brakes, then you need to get your car checked out. A squeaking sound will be high pitched and you’ll notice every time you use your brakes that it makes those sounds. Grinding will feel like something is crunching between your wheels every time you put on the brakes and that could mean your brake pads have completely worn away. If you hear a grinding sound, it could be due to failing brake pads, lack of or leaking brake fluid, or issues with your brake rotors. The brake pads could be cracked or worn down, and if you hear grinding it could be the rotor needs to be replaced altogether. In many cases, you may be able to get away with a brake pad replacement service. However, you may need a more thorough brake rotor replacement service. This can be a very expensive replacement but don’t wait to get it done. Brakes are no joking matter and should be fixed as quickly as possible. If you do notice any of these sounds while your driving pay attention, and resist the urge to turn up the music and ignore it.
Burning Smell
One of the biggest concerning signs that there is an issue with your brakes is if you smell burning when using your brakes. If you smell burning in general when you are driving your car that is a sign of many issues that aren’t related to brakes. So if you smell any burning at all you should definitely take your car in. In this case if it only happens when you are braking it might be a sign you need to replace your brakes. If you continue to notice something smells like it is burning when you are driving, it could be a sign that your brakes are overheating. If this occurs, serious damage to your brakes could develop very quickly. This will then require you to have them completely repaired and rebuilt in order for you to be able to drive your car safely again.
If you are experiencing any of these issues with your brakes, it is important to bring your vehicle in for service as soon as you can. A technician will be able to fully assess the condition and quality of your brakes to determine the necessary course of action. This could include a full brake replacement. Don’t wait to get your brakes inspected. If you notice any of the above-mentioned issues going on with your vehicle it is time to go get it checked out. Be proactive about your car maintenance to help ensure that your car lasts as long a possible. The last thing you want is for them to stop working altogether in the middle of your drive. Be smart, be safe, and take your car in to avoid accidents in the future.
