The most crucial safety feature of your car is the brakes. The braking system helps you to control your speed and is vital in emergencies when you need to brake suddenly to avoid an accident. Always be on the lookout for the following signs, and when you experience any of these warnings, get a brake repair asap.
1. Brake Warning Light
If the brake light on your dashboard stays on, don’t ignore it. This means that there is a problem with your braking system and it needs to be repaired.
2. Squealing and Screeching Sounds
This is quite an alarming sound, but actually, it is only a warning that your brakes are worn. There is a little piece of metal built into the brake pads that make a sound when it touches the rotors.
3. High-Pitched Noises
Screeching noises can also be an indication that your rotors are glazed. If you see dark rings or marks on the rotors, they need replacing. This is caused by hard braking at high speeds.
4. Metallic Grinding Sounds
If you do not attend to those squealing and screeching noises, the next sound you will hear is a horrible grinding noise. The brake pads are now completely worn down and what you hear is the metal plate against the rotor. To avoid accidents, don’t ignore this sign.
5. Slow Brakes
You are stepping on the brake, but your car responds slowly. It could mean that your brake pads and rotors are old and worn and don’t grip well. It could also be an indication that there is an air leak in the brake hose. Your car could be low on brake fluid, the fluid is old, or there is a leak.
6. Leaking Fluids and Air
If the braking system’s hoses are split, the connections are loose, or the seals are worn, fluid can leak out. You will also feel that your car is slow or lazy to come to a halt. Check under your vehicle for spots and stains and if you see a dark mark, get the leaked fixed soon.
7. Thin Pads
If the brake pads are less than a quarter-inch thick, your car needs new brake pads. Some brake pads also have a wear indicator in the middle, and when the groove is worn down, the brake pads need replacing.
8. Vibrations
When you feel vibrations through the brake pedal or the steering wheel, it is caused by warped rotors. When rotors are old and thin, they get warped and need to be replaced.
9. Sensitive Brakes
When your car jerks when you stop, it could be a sign that you need new brake fluid or that your rotors are worn. Have your vehicle inspected by a technician.
10. Pulling Left or Right
When you brake, and you can feel your car is pulling to the left or the right, the brakes are worn more on one side than the other, and they need to be adjusted. This could also be caused by dirty brake fluid.
You must have your brakes checked by a skilled technician regularly to keep you, your passengers, and other drivers safe on the road. Contact Flood Mazda today. Our expert technicians will make sure your vehicle performs at its best.
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