5 Must Know Signs of Brake Trouble

The brake system in your vehicle is designed to safely slow the car and bring it to a stop on your command. Over time, the components of the brake system will wear out, rendering the system incompetent. If the brake system is not healthy, stopping distances will be increased and the potential for complete brake failure will grow. To ensure your vehicle remains safe to drive, always be on the lookout for any signs of brake trouble. If you encounter any of the following issues, be sure to schedule brake repair with your local auto repair shop ASAP.

Grinding Noises

More than likely, the first sign of trouble that you will encounter if your vehicle is in need of new brake pads is a grinding or squealing noise that happens when you apply the brakes. This is the sound of metal grinding on metal, which occurs if the brake pads have worn critically thin. Head to the shop for new pads immediately.

Vibrating Brake Pedal

If your brake pedal, steering wheel or even the whole car shakes and shivers when you hit the brakes, there is a good chance that the brake rotors are warped. Shaking occurs because the pads do not have a smooth surface to rub against to create the friction that slows your vehicle.

Soft Brake Pedal

A brake pedal that becomes easily pushed to the floor or is now resting closer to the floor than it used to, is probably suffering from air in the brake lines. However, this issue could also be the result of extremely worn brake pads or low levels of brake fluid, the latter of which may be caused by a dangerous brake fluid leak.

Vehicle Pulling

A vehicle that pulls left or right during braking could be suffering from a number of problems. The most common causes of this as related to the brakes include contaminated brake fluid, a stuck wheel cylinder or uneven wear of the brake pads.

ABS Light

The antilock braking system (ABS) light will illuminate on your dashboard if braking sensors detect a problem, such as low brake fluid. It's imperative to visit the shop as soon as possible for proper diagnostics.

Never delay having brake problems repaired, as it is up to you to keep your car safe. For expert brake repair in Austin, visit the team at Jimmy's Top Tech Auto. With more than 45 years of auto repair experience between our team members, you can rest assured that your car is in good hands. Give us a call at (512) 768-2965 any time your vehicle needs auto repair in Austin!

Jimmy's Top Tech Auto Blog

Written and Published By MORBiZ