It is important to stay aware of your vehicle’s braking system in order to prevent costly repairs or replacement. Most major brake malfunctions and repairs can be avoided with routine maintenance, coupled with driver awareness. To stay ahead of costly brake repairs, look for these signs: noises, smells and other vehicle malfunctions.
When you’re aware of these symptoms and problems, you can easily detect and prevent long-term damages. Use these following tips to detect early signs of needed brake repair and, when these signs appear, consult your auto repair specialist immediately.
Sound: Brake Repairs
Notice unfamiliar noises such as squealing, rubbing, and screeching. These are typical symptoms of brake pad or brake shoe malfunction. Having these noises inspected by a brake system specialist can prevent further damage of brake pads and shoes, brake rotors and drums, and/ or other vehicle parts.
Vibration:Brake Repairs
Pulsations or vibrations occurring in your brake pedal or steering wheel can indicate a brake system failure. Never disregard vehicle vibrations, as pulsations are commonly caused by brake rotors wearing down from excessive use of brakes that need to be repaired. As needed brake repairs are prolonged, rotors can become warped from metal to metal contact causing irreversible damage resulting in costly brake repairs.
Function:
When brake functionality begins to change, schedule a brake system inspection as soon as possible. If you experience decreased ability to brake (i.e. a “soft” brake pedal or a brake pedal that travels to the floor before brakes engage) a dangerous situation might exist and brake repair is needed immediately. When brake use begins to become more difficult by increased pressure needed to brake, this could be a driver’s first indicator that brake pads are beginning to wear. If you are experiencing a “hard pedal”, i.e. the brake pedal is extremely hard to push, chances are your power brake booster is in need of replacement. If this occurs, have your vehicle’s brakes inspected as soon as possible.
Smell:
If you begin to smell a foul, rigid burning scent produced around your vehicle’s tire area, stop operations immediately. These smells are not normal and can cause incredibly unsafe situations for the vehicle’s occupants. Consult an auto repair specialist immediately to diagnose your brake system and find any parts that may be compromised. Never continue driving a vehicle with noticeable smells coming from the areas that surround the tire, as brake repair is almost certainly needed.
Warning:
Do not disregard brake repair warning lights or other built-in vehicle warnings. While this suggestion might seem simplistic, brake warning lights should be taken seriously at first detection. Never continue driving a vehicle with symptoms of brake failure. Failing brakes result in both costly damages and severely unsafe driving situations. By using these easy tips, drivers can easily maintain brake repair safety, while staying ahead of costly brake repairs. Save time and money while gaining peace of mind by staying current with brake system inspections and maintenance.
What’s Next?
Postle Tire Barn specializes in brake diagnosis and repair. We’ve served the tire and automotive needs of West Alabama for more than 35 years. We are located on Jug Factory Road (behind McDonalds) in Tuscaloosa. Feel free to contact us!
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