Do I need to check my brakes?
If you have owned your car since it was new and it's been awhile, or never, that your brakes were serviced it might be a good idea. It's one thing to have your car purring and moving you down the road at 70MPH+ it's quite another to need to stop quickly. Even when your brakes are in good condition and working properly it's going to take you several hundred feet to come to a complete stop from 70 MPH+.
Some obvious signs brakes needs attention are:
1) Vibration
2) Squeeking Constantly
3) Pulling to one side only
4) Strange Sounds
5) Tempermental Brake Pedal
Vibration
Can be caused by a number of factors within the braking system itself. From a faulty Brake Master Cylinder to worn pads and rotors. If you have a vibration or pulsing when you step on the brakes you need to check your braking system components. If your not skilled enough to know what to look for find a mechanic you can trust as soon as possible.
Squeeking Constantly
Brake pads have a warning built into them when they are properly installed. There a metal tab that rubs against the brake rotors when the brake pads where down to a given point. The sound will be unmistakable and loud. You won't want to drive your car with this kind of racket. In any case it's time to check out the braking system and at the very least replace the brake pads. If you caught them in time the rotors may not have to be replaced. This will depend on the wear of the rotors. Your braking system is one big collection of wear parts and should be monitored regularly for proper operation. Ensuring safety to your passengers and others out on the road.
Pulling to one side
As mentioned above your braking system is a collection of wear parts that should be monitored regularly for proper operation. Pulling may be cause from a number of braking component failures so consulting a mechanic is very important. An example would be a collapsed hose that becomes stuck in a suspension spring or stuck caliper. Other parts of your car may be wearing and causing your car to pull upon braking. For example misaligned tires or enevenly worn suspension. If your car is pulling to one side it's time to get into your trusted mechanic to fix this problem
New and odd sounds
Most of us have a close relationship with our cars even if we aren't mechanically inclined. We know the sounds our cars make and we sure know when a new sound appears. It's usually what drives mechanics crazy when a customer comes in with one of these, lol. Not so with the braking system. Brake pad improperly installed might wear prematurely before the metal sensor ever get close enough to touch the disc rotor. Also, if cheaper brakes were installed the last time there may not be metal sensor. Cheaper is not always better.
Is that weird noise getting worse? if so it's likely that your brake pads have completely lost all the braking surface and now you are running brake pad metal on rotor disc metal. Definitely time to get your car into a mechanic. Just a sticker shock warning. If rotors are necessary they roughly double the price of a brake job. We'll keep you informed as soon as we know what's need to fix your brakes.
Tempermental Brake Pedal
You may have even noticed some erratic brake pedal action with the above symptoms. Generally speaking if a brake pedal is mushy the brake fluid is low, you have a leak in the line and air has been introduced into the brake lines and each time you step on the brake pedal the air in the system has to get "compressed" before the hydraulic fluid can push the brake pads together and stop the car.
Sometimes the opposite is true, you have a very sensitive brake pedal and it causes your brakes to almost lock up with the slightes touch. This could be several things like dirty brake fluid (hasn't been checked in quite some time). It could also be improperly worn rotors or disc pads causing your brakes to grab.
Both of these symptoms require immediate attention. Slowing the car down when you need it to slow down is not an option. Come by and let us have a look
