Your vehicle's brakes are important to your safety on the road. Many people will wait until they run into brake issues to actually have their brakes inspected and serviced. However, this can be risky and put you in a scary situation on the road. The best way to go about brake maintenance is to have your brake system regularly inspected and serviced and to understand the symptoms of failing brakes so you can address any problems quickly.
Brake pads are components that will need to be replaced periodically, considering that they undergo a ton of heat on a daily basis and are the most used component of the brake system. When you press down on the brake pedal, the calipers close down which squeezes the rotors on either side. This causes friction which causes your wheels to slow down or stop. The pads at the components that make contact with the rotors during this process and the friction does cause them to wear down over time.
How do you know when your brake pads need to be replaced? Here are 5 signs that indicate your vehicle needs new brake pads:
- Your brakes are squealing - if you hear a squealing noise when braking, this could be the brake pad's indicator letting you know that the brake pads are too worn down and need to be replaced.
- A clicking noise - a clicking noise can be a sign that your brake pads are loose, and possibly the brake pad holding device needs a repair.
- It takes longer to brake than before - if you find that it takes you longer to slow or stop completely than it usually does, this can be an indication that your brakes are worn out and are overheating.
- Your car pulls to one side when you brake - this can happen if your vehicle's brakes wear down unevenly, for instance, more so on one side than the other.
- Brake pedal vibrates when you press it - if you press down on the pedal and it vibrates excessively, this can indicate that the binding resin from the pad is on the rotors.
As soon as you notice any of these symptoms, it is important to get your vehicle into the experts here at Lorentz Automotive for an inspection. We never want you to drive with bad brakes, and we can determine if you need new brake pads or any other brake service or repair. Give us a call or stop by our shop today!