How Do You Know When Your Car Needs a Brake Repair?

How do you know when your brakes are in need of brake repair? The time has come to have work done on your brakes when the brake linings have worn down to the point where they are no longer safe. If they have worn down to the minimum acceptable thickness according to what has been specified by the vehicle manufacturer then you need to take action. The only way to know for sure if new linings need to be put in is to have your brakes inspected. 

A brake repair may also be necessary for other reasons. If you notice that your brakes are experiencing any type of problem then it is time to take them into a mechanic shop to have them looked at. For instance if your brakes are grabbing, pulling or making a noise then you should not ignore these warning signs. The same is the case if there is a vibration in your pedal or if the pedal is low or soft. If any aspect of your brake system has failed then you need to have it looked at- the sooner the better! 

If the mechanic takes a look at your brakes and can isolate the component that is having the issue then other parts can be left alone and do not have to be touched. However there are times when more than one part will need to be fixed which could mean that the work will take longer to complete and will be more expensive. 

You may assume that you need to go in for a brake repair after you reach a specific mileage interval. There is no interval at which the brakes on a motor vehicle must be relined in accordance with how you drive, the brake system design, the braking habits, the vehicle's weight and a number of other factors. Brake linings that last for 70,000 miles or more than that on an automobile that is mainly driven on the highway may only last for 30,000 to 40,000 miles on a car that is driven mainly in the city and is constantly stopping and starting. 

As a general rule a brake repair job will be required more often on the front brakes. This is because the front ones tend to wear out faster than the ones on the rear of the vehicle. The front brakes take the most abuse as the brunt of the braking load falls upon them. This is especially the case for front-wheel cars as well as mini vans. 

You may notice that there are plenty of garages that offer discounts and specials on front brake linings only. This type of brake repair is fine as long as the back brakes are in fair to good condition. However the rear brakes should also be inspected at this time too. If they are showing signs of wear then they also may need to be relined. 

Sometimes the advertised price on a brake job ends up being different than the total of the bill that you are handed after all work has been completed. Make sure that you are made aware of all costs upfront so you are not taken off guard by how much you end up having to pay!