7 Signs Your Car Brakes May Be Failing
Vehicle maintenance is a part of any car owner’s routine, but there are some tasks we tend to ignore if the timing isn’t right.
Your maintenance light may be on, but you know you have another week before you need to get an oil change. The washer fluid has been low for a while, but since it’s been rainy, is there really a rush to change it?
One thing you should never ignore is issues with your car brakes. Breaks are one of the most important safety features in cars. Regardless of if you’re driving in rough weather or on a sunny day, brakes are important.
Are you concerned about failing brakes? If you notice any of these signs, know that a trip to the mechanic should be in your future.
1. Longer Stopping Times
You know that it's never a good idea to bring cars to an abrupt stop, but you have the feeling that your car wouldn't be able to do so even if you wanted to. It seems like you need to push the brakes much sooner to get them to work. You've even started putting more distance between yourself and other drivers to be safe.
It's important for cars to be able to stop whenever they need to. If you're noticing that it's taking longer for your brakes to work, speak with a specialist.
2. Unusual Car Directions
You think it may just be you, but you swear that you always end up drifting to the right when you break. You think the issue may be your steering, but there could be something far more serious happening with your brakes.
If you feel your vehicle pull to one side when you brake, you could have a faulty brake hose or caliper. This causes uneven pressure to one side of your car, and that can put a lot of strain on a concentrated area of your car.
Whether it’s the brakes or the steering, make sure you bring your car to a mechanic ASAP.
3. Soft Brakes
Braking shouldn't be a chore in your car, but you also shouldn't be able to push down the pedal with ease. Ideally, you should always feel the slightest bit of resistance each time you use your brakes.
When you apply the brakes in your vehicle, does it feel like your foot is almost touching the floorboard? That could be a sign that some moisture or air is trapped in the brake system. A more serious problem could also be occurring with the master cylinder.
4. Leaking Fluid
Applying the brakes to your car requires a lot of small actions to happen all at once. These critical small movements and changes are made possible by brake fluid. The fluid is used to create hydraulic pressure against the brake caliper which is needed to brake smoothly and safely.
A vehicle that’s low or completely out of brake fluid won’t be able to stop safely. This is why it’s important to check your brake fluid as soon as you suspect issues.
Do you think that your car is leaking brake fluid? It could be an issue with the master cylinder, the fluid line, or a different important part of the brake system.
5. Burning Smells
It’s never a good thing to see smoke when you’re using your car. Unfortunately, sometimes you may not see smoke even though there’s significant damage happening to your brakes.
Do you notice a sharp chemical smell when you brake your vehicle? That could be a sign that your brakes are overheated.
Overheated brakes are incredibly dangerous. When brakes become overheated, they could fail, cause damage to other parts of the car, or even cause a fire.
6. Strange Movements
Do you feel your car wobbling or vibrating when you apply the brakes? When you notice this movement, do you feel it in your steering wheel? Many people assume this movement has something to do with their wheel alignment, but this could be a sign that there’s something wrong with your brakes.
Brakes can experience a lot of wear and tear over time. If you're feeling strange motions when you use your brakes, it could be a sign that the rotor surface is wearing down.
Uneven rotors may not seem like a big deal, but over time they make braking difficult. If you catch this in time, getting the rotors even again can be a simple and inexpensive fix.
7. Odd Sounds
We do want to stress that hearing noises when you brake isn’t always a sign of immediate damage. It’s possible that a foreign object like gravel has gotten lodged in the system and needs to be taken out. Although this is an issue that should be handled by a mechanic, it doesn’t always mean that your brakes have been damaged.
Squeaking or squealing sounds could be a sign that your brake pads are wearing down. That strange sound you hear could be metal in your brake pad grinding on your rotor.
Grinding sounds can be a bit more serious. That could be a problem with your disc or drum brakes. If you don’t hear grinding, but you feel something locking up that could be grinding, talk to a mechanic ASAP.
Put Your Car Brakes in Good Hands
As you can see, you don't need to wait for the ABS light to come on the dash to see if there's an issue with your car brakes. Being aware of the sign of problems can help you catch issues before they get too serious.
Do you think there may be an issue with your vehicle's brakes after reading this post? Are you looking for reliable help to solve your car problems? We're here to handle all your Killeen auto needs, so reach out to us today so we can help!
Vehicle maintenance is a part of any car owner’s routine, but there are some tasks we tend to ignore if the timing isn’t right.
Your maintenance light may be on, but you know you have another week before you need to get an oil change. The washer fluid has been low for a while, but since it’s been rainy, is there really a rush to change it?
One thing you should never ignore is issues with your car brakes. Breaks are one of the most important safety features in cars. Regardless of if you’re driving in rough weather or on a sunny day, brakes are important.
Are you concerned about failing brakes? If you notice any of these signs, know that a trip to the mechanic should be in your future.
1. Longer Stopping Times
You know that it's never a good idea to bring cars to an abrupt stop, but you have the feeling that your car wouldn't be able to do so even if you wanted to. It seems like you need to push the brakes much sooner to get them to work. You've even started putting more distance between yourself and other drivers to be safe.
It's important for cars to be able to stop whenever they need to. If you're noticing that it's taking longer for your brakes to work, speak with a specialist.
2. Unusual Car Directions
You think it may just be you, but you swear that you always end up drifting to the right when you break. You think the issue may be your steering, but there could be something far more serious happening with your brakes.
If you feel your vehicle pull to one side when you brake, you could have a faulty brake hose or caliper. This causes uneven pressure to one side of your car, and that can put a lot of strain on a concentrated area of your car.
Whether it’s the brakes or the steering, make sure you bring your car to a mechanic ASAP.
3. Soft Brakes
Braking shouldn't be a chore in your car, but you also shouldn't be able to push down the pedal with ease. Ideally, you should always feel the slightest bit of resistance each time you use your brakes.
When you apply the brakes in your vehicle, does it feel like your foot is almost touching the floorboard? That could be a sign that some moisture or air is trapped in the brake system. A more serious problem could also be occurring with the master cylinder.
4. Leaking Fluid
Applying the brakes to your car requires a lot of small actions to happen all at once. These critical small movements and changes are made possible by brake fluid. The fluid is used to create hydraulic pressure against the brake caliper which is needed to brake smoothly and safely.
A vehicle that’s low or completely out of brake fluid won’t be able to stop safely. This is why it’s important to check your brake fluid as soon as you suspect issues.
Do you think that your car is leaking brake fluid? It could be an issue with the master cylinder, the fluid line, or a different important part of the brake system.
5. Burning Smells
It’s never a good thing to see smoke when you’re using your car. Unfortunately, sometimes you may not see smoke even though there’s significant damage happening to your brakes.
Do you notice a sharp chemical smell when you brake your vehicle? That could be a sign that your brakes are overheated.
Overheated brakes are incredibly dangerous. When brakes become overheated, they could fail, cause damage to other parts of the car, or even cause a fire.
6. Strange Movements
Do you feel your car wobbling or vibrating when you apply the brakes? When you notice this movement, do you feel it in your steering wheel? Many people assume this movement has something to do with their wheel alignment, but this could be a sign that there’s something wrong with your brakes.
Brakes can experience a lot of wear and tear over time. If you're feeling strange motions when you use your brakes, it could be a sign that the rotor surface is wearing down.
Uneven rotors may not seem like a big deal, but over time they make braking difficult. If you catch this in time, getting the rotors even again can be a simple and inexpensive fix.
7. Odd Sounds
We do want to stress that hearing noises when you brake isn’t always a sign of immediate damage. It’s possible that a foreign object like gravel has gotten lodged in the system and needs to be taken out. Although this is an issue that should be handled by a mechanic, it doesn’t always mean that your brakes have been damaged.
Squeaking or squealing sounds could be a sign that your brake pads are wearing down. That strange sound you hear could be metal in your brake pad grinding on your rotor.
Grinding sounds can be a bit more serious. That could be a problem with your disc or drum brakes. If you don’t hear grinding, but you feel something locking up that could be grinding, talk to a mechanic ASAP.
Put Your Car Brakes in Good Hands
As you can see, you don't need to wait for the ABS light to come on the dash to see if there's an issue with your car brakes. Being aware of the sign of problems can help you catch issues before they get too serious.
Do you think there may be an issue with your vehicle's brakes after reading this post? Are you looking for reliable help to solve your car problems? We're here to handle all your Killeen auto needs, so reach out to us today so we can help!
