Four Signs Your Vehicle Needs New Brakes

Although you may not be a mechanic or know much about cars, problems with your car brakes can easily be detected by being aware of a few warning signs. A car braking system is, of course, a complex process, but it might help to know the basic parts and understand how they relate.

Most modern cars make use of two metallic discs, called rotors, placed behind each of the two front wheels. When you push your brake pedals, a clamplike device called a caliper, placed above each of the rotors, starts closing and slowly clamping the rotor. This causes the rotation to slow down until the wheels come to a complete stop. Inside each caliper is a removable brake pad that makes direct contact with the rotors. Over time these pads will wear thin because of friction and will need to be replaced.

There are, however, also other elements in the braking system that might need replacement — brake fluid, for instance. Here are a few warning signs you should pay attention to.

1. Reduced Responsiveness

If you notice a decreased responsiveness when you push the brake pedal, it might be an indication of two problems: an air leak or a brake fluid leak. If you see a pool of liquid underneath your car when you are parked, and it’s similar to motor oil, a brake fluid leak is most likely causing the problem.

2. High-Pitched Screeching Sound

Most brake pads these days come with built-in wear indicators, which are metal inserts found at the top of each pad. When a pad is worn out, this metal indicator will come into direct contact with the rotor, causing a screeching sound. If you start hearing this sound on a regular basis, it is most definitely time for new brake pads!

3. Pulling

If you apply the brakes and your car pulls to one side, this is an indicator that your brake pads have not worn evenly on both sides. When this happens, you will, unfortunately, need to replace both pads to ensure that you have two of equal thickness. Left unchecked, this problem could cause damage to other parts of your vehicle, such as the steering rack, wheel bearings, or ball joints. Another possible cause of pulling, however, could also be foreign matter in the brake fluid, which will obviously be solved by replacing the fluid.

4. Vibration

If you feel a vibration when you apply the brakes, it could once again be because of the pads. Brake pads contain a binding resin that’s transferred onto the rotors when the pads heat up. If the pads, however, get over-heated, the resin may be distributed unevenly over the rotors. This process is called “glazing” by mechanics and would need to be sorted out by them.

If you become aware of any of these warning signs, do not ignore them. Remember, as with any other car issue, the sooner you have a brake issue fixed, the better; otherwise, the problem might very well escalate and start involving other parts. Moreover, malfunctioning brakes could cause nasty accidents and even claim lives.

 

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