Brake Repair: 3 Issues That Need Your Attention

With brake repair—as in most other aspects of owning a car—there are a myriad of problems you might encounter. Such is life when you own a vehicle. Unfortunately, a problem with your braking system can't be ignored like a problem with your air conditioning or the middle seatbelt in your backseat. They need to be addressed as soon as possible, both to keep you safe and to avoid the bigger bill that comes along with letting a problem fester and get worse. If you have a trusted auto mechanic you can call, get these problems fixed as soon as you notice them.

Pulling

If you've ever noticed your car pulling to one side or the other when you bring your vehicle to a stop, it could be a sign that brake repair is imminent. This is one of those obvious warning signs that so many people choose to ignore, believing perhaps that the problem will magically fix itself in time. It won't. The problem isn't always in the braking system, of course. Bad tires, bad alignments, and other such issues can cause similar symptoms. It could be your braking system, though, due to rotor imbalance or a frozen caliper. Don't wait to find out. Take your car to a good mechanic and have them take a look.

Pulsing

Even when the pads are replaced regularly, the rotors can become worn. When this happens unevenly, it can cause you to feel a pulsating vibration whenever you bring your car to a stop. This can severely limit your stopping time and it could be doing the kind of damage to your rotors that will require replacement. If you catch it in time, (which is easily done - just pay attention) you can probably get away with resurfacing, however. This is much cheaper. Take your car in to a brake repair specialist and see what they have to say.

Dragging

Sometimes your braking system just doesn't know when to stop (no pun intended). You've completed your stop and are ready to begin traveling again. Unfortunately, your brake pads are still touching your rotors. This can have a dramatic impact on your fuel consumption, cause your engine to work much harder than it needs to and cause you to go through your pads much more quickly. Have a brake repair expert examine your vehicle and fix your drum retraction springs or whatever else might be causing your dragging issues. Doing so immediately will save you a lot of money in the long run.