If there is one thing you should never ignore, it’s brake system trouble. Well, you shouldn’t ignore your engine overheating, either, but we’ll talk about that in another blog post. You don’t need CAR FIX to tell you what would happen if you couldn’t stop your car, truck, or SUV. We don’t want to think about it. Usually, your brake system gives you signs before it fails. Aside from the brake system warning light (don’t ignore it, either), here are four other symptoms of a failing brake system.
You Brake and Your Car Pulls to One Side
Your car shouldn’t pull to either side when you apply your brakes. If it does, your brake pads might be wearing down unevenly, you may have a stuck caliper, or you could have a problem with a rotor. Other reasons why braking causes cars to pull are dirty brake fluid and the brake cylinders. No matter what the issue is, it’s best to drive straight to a service shop to find out why your car pulls when you brake.
You Brake and Your Brake Pedal Sinks to the Floor
Yikes! This is scary. Your brake pedal should never sink or feel soft. You should have the same resistance each time you depress the pedal. If you have air in your brake lines, your pedal will sink to the floor when you step on it. Your vehicle’s brake system may also be leaking brake fluid. In rare cases, a sinking pedal can be caused by the master cylinder or worn brake pads, but the pads usually make noise instead.
You Brake and Hear Noise
Nice segue above, right? If you do step on the brake pedal and hear any noise whatsoever, your brake pads are trying to tell you something. If the pads are wearing down, they will squeak or squeal when your vehicle is in motion and sometimes when you step on the brake pedal. If they grind, you have no brake pads left and you’re damaging the rotors with metal-on-metal contact. This is bad.
You Brake and Your Car Shakes
Finally, after millions of revolutions and brake pad pressure, your brake rotors will wear down. Sometimes, they wear down unevenly and your car, truck, or SUV will shake when you apply the brakes. You might also have a rock stuck in a brake caliper, but, usually, a vibrating vehicle while braking signals rotor trouble of some sort. Bring your vehicle in for a brake inspection.
Where? Bring it into CAR FIX in Oak Ridge, TN.
