Warning Signs Indicating You Need a Brake Repair

When was the last time you took your car in for a brake inspection or repair? Well, if you are like most people, you haven’t taken your brakes in for inspection in while, that is unless you had a service light on indicating to take your car in for service. However, if you prefer to be proactive about this sort of thing or you simply need help in determining if your brakes are indicating warning signs that they require attention and/or repair. It is the intent of this article to provide examples of warning signs that you may need a brake repair. 

The first and perhaps most obvious warning sign that you need a brake repair can be attributed to your brakes making loud dramatic noises, i.e. screeching or grinding sounds. Clearly, your brakes are not supposed to make any noises and in the event they are making screeching or grinding noises you should be alarmed that something is very wrong with your car. In fact, screeching sounds are often an indication that the brake pads have worn dangerously thin and consequently will stop working soon. Trust me you don’t want to be on the road, especially accelerating, when your brakes stop working. The results of which are not only dangerous but also extremely costly to repair once additional damage is done to you, your car and perhaps additional individuals and their vehicles. Another warning sign that you need a brake repair can be the result of a demonstrated inability of your brakes to work properly. For example, if you find that you have to press the brake pedal all the way down to the floor of your car, in order for your brakes to actually work, then clearly something is wrong. You should not have to press the brake pedal all the way down in order for your car to begin to slow down. Doing so is indicative of failing brakes and should be immediately checked out by a professional mechanic. The last warning sign that you need to take your car in for a brake repair is that your brakes are emitting a smell. You will know it is your brakes that you smell particularly because the fumes will only be present when you are braking. Again, your brakes should not be emitting smells and in the event that it is, it is indeed indicative of an urgent matter. 

Not many of us are actually proactive enough to be diligent about our preventative car maintenance. This is particularly true of the care of our brakes. As a result of this, we sometimes have a tendency to wait until our brakes give warning signs that they need the attention of a professional mechanic, i.e. a repair. While you can experience loud dramatic noises, weak pedals or smells individually, it is also possible to experience any combination of these symptoms. Nevertheless, the point is very much the same; your brakes are in need of service as indicated by the malfunctioning and/or the addition of abnormal actions.