Brake Repair - What To Expect When You Stop

There are several warning signs that you should be aware of when it comes to your car’s safety system- namely your brakes. You should know what feels normal and what doesn’t feel right when it comes to breaking so you won’t be caught off guard by driving a car with faulty brakes that can give out on you at anytime.

If you are in an accident because of mechanical error- i.e. your brakes failed, guess who the insurance companies are going to go after with a vengeance? If you know your car needs a brake repair job done and you ignore that information you are literally playing Russian roulette with your life and the lives of everyone on the road with you. 

If you’re unsure what the warning signs are of an impending brake repair job here are the most common indicators that you can expect. When you apply your brakes does your car shake and warble? This could indicate that your brake drums or rotors are warped and need to be replaced. Another indicator that you need a brake repair job can be indicated when you apply your brake pedal and your brake either is spongy and goes down to far to be effective or it is hard and wont go down correctly. Both of these are indicators that your brake system needs to be evaluated. You could have a problem with hydraulic fluid reaching the brake system or your problem could be worn brakes. Neither one of these should be ignored however.

Other red flags to pay attention to include brakes that pull the car to one side when you apply the brake pedal. This could indicate you have a sticking caliper on one side or the other. Brake calipers house the brake pads and cover the rotors. 

And finally the biggest red flag of all and one you can’t ignore is the sound of grinding or squealing when you apply the brakes. By the time you are hearing metal to metal sounds your brake pads or shoes are worn down and will need to be replaced. In other words there are no brakes in place anymore and you are running without any safety equipment in place.

The good new about brake repair jobs is the fact that your brakes will generally last a long time. You should have your brake system inspected every year as part of your annual maintenance program but you probably won’t be facing major brake repair jobs on a yearly basis. There are a lot of things that can affect your brakes longevity including how much you drive, where you drive- city vs. highway and how much you ride your brakes when you do drive. The more stop and go traffic you hit, such as the city for example, the more wear that is put on your braking system. If you ride your brakes out of a bad habit you will be wearing down your brakes unnecessarily as well. 

Pay attention to the warning signs and your brakes can last a long time.