5 Sure Signs That Your Brakes Need Changing
How do I know if my brakes need changing?
There are five sure signs that your brakes need changing: strange sounds, visibly thinning brake pads, braking vibrations, odd sensations under your feet, and your vehicle pulling left or right.
As the most crucial part of your car, you need to pay attention to any warning signs. From an apparent brake light on your dashboard to the feeling that your vehicle’s taking longer to stop, get it checked out! It might mean the difference between life and death on the road.
When you’re cruising along Dewsbury Road on a crisp, bright day, it’s easy to forget that you’re in a heavy metal box that could take the length of a football field to stop. That is why your brakes are your car’s most vital safety system. But how can you be sure your brakes are working correctly?
Read on to learn more about the top five signs that your brakes need changing or at least checking.
1. Strange Sounds
Are strange braking noises a sign of faulty brakes?
No one likes strange noises when it comes to your car, and this is especially true of your brakes. When your brakes speak to you in a high-pitched squeal, they are telling you they are in trouble! It often means that the pads need replacing.
In addition to the squeal from the sensor, you’ll also want to listen for a harsh grinding sound. This means real trouble as you’ve gone entirely through your brake pads. When this happens, it means that every time you apply the brakes, the metal of the callipers grinds against the metal of your rotors. So your car won’t be stopping effectively, plus you will be causing damage to the rest of your brake mechanism. If you don’t get this looked at quickly, a relatively easy and inexpensive pad job could become a very costly ordeal.
2 – Worn brake pads
How do I know if my brake pads are worn?
As you can imagine, your disc pads wear thin over time and become less effective at stopping your car. But the good news is that checking the thickness of your brake pads is straightforward. Just look between the spokes of your wheel to spot the shiny metal rotor inside. Then check around the outer edge, where you’ll see the metal calliper. Between the calliper and rotor, you’ll see the pad. Generally, your pads should be at least half a centimetre thick.
If your brake pads are thinner than 0.5cm, come see us and have them changed!
3 – Brakes that vibrate
What does it mean when my brakes vibrate?
Generally, a vibrating brake pedal indicates warped rotors. Their uneven surfaces will thrum against the brake pads, and you’ll feel the feedback through the brake pedal. Your rotors usually warp when under extreme stress for an extended period, for instance, by the friction-generated heat caused by steep hills or frequent stopping while pulling something heavy. So, if you live up high or have a caravan or horsebox that you regularly pull, you may experience this at one time or another.
Are your brakes vibrating or feeling resistant, similar to when you’ve had to make an emergency stop, and the antilock brakes kick in – creating a rapid brake pedal pulsing experience? If your brake pedal is pulsing and not due to an emergency stop, it’s a clear sign of a problem, indicating that your brakes may need to be changed.
Another cause of braking vibrations is misaligned wheels—this may cause your brake pedal to vibrate. Whatever the case, it is always best to see a local garage, like us, for diagnosis.
4 – Your brake pedal feels funny
Why is my brake pedal stiff?
In addition to vibrations, your brake pedal can give you other signals that your car’s braking system needs a checkup. Do you ever feel like your brake pedal is in treacle? Or do you have to press it so far that it practically hits the floor before engaging your brakes? This could indicate worn pads, a problem with the hydraulics or a brake fluid leak. To check for a brake leak, put an old white sheet or light cardboard under your car overnight. In the morning, check if any fluid has dropped. The brake fluid will be clear and looks a bit like cooking oil.
The other sign of an attention-seeking brake pedal is the opposite. By this, we mean an overly responsive pedal. If you experience hardcore braking responses that throw you forward at the slightest touch of the pedal, this could mean that you have an unevenly worn brake system, dirty brake fluid or other contaminants. You can quickly fix this yourself with an inexpensive fluid change or come to us to do it.
Alternatively, if stopping your car feels like Fred Flintstone putting his feet through the floor, you might have something blocking your brake line or a vacuum system fault. Whatever the case, if your brake pedal feels odd, we always recommend getting it checked out by a professional mechanic.
5 – Your car drives strange
Why is my car pulling sideways?
Is your car pulling you left or right, or does it feel like it wants to drive itself? Well, this could be a signal that your braking system is stuck. What happens is friction is only applied to one wheel and not the others, causing your vehicle to pull you sideways.
Alternatively, your car might have a collapsed brake hose or uneven brake pads. All of these things can cause a swerve in your drive or resistance braking as they apply different amounts of pressure to other wheels.
However, cars that pull can also indicate a problem with your tyres. Incorrectly inflated tyres, worn tyres, poor alignment or a problem with your vehicle’s suspension can also cause dodgy pulling sensations. So, if your car begins to pull, you’ll want to pull in and see us for a speedy, free diagnosis in Wakefield.
Get your brakes checked for FREE in Wakefield.
If you want us to look over your brake, pop in and see us off Dewsbury Road in Wakefield (opposite McDonalds and Morrisons). We complete visual brake checks for free! Furthermore, if anything needs fixing or replacing, we will give you genuine, honest advice and a fair, Yorkshire-priced quote. You can always trust us to do the best job and get you safely back on the road as quickly as possible!
Get in touch today to book a time with us at Cross Lane Garage in Wakefield. Call us now: 01924 374447
Or, drop in and see us if you are passing at Cross Lane, Wakefield WF2 8DB.
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