Making sure that the brakes on your car are in as good a shape as possible is really important. That's why you should know some of the signs that your brakes may need to be repaired. Knowing those signs will let you get your brakes taken care of before they get too bad.
Squealing Brakes
That squeal is a built-in feature for your brakes. It is part of a wear indicator, and its sole purpose is to make that annoying noise when it is uncovered. As you use your brakes, you wear the surface down a little bit more each time you hit the brake pedal. Eventually, you uncover that wear indicator, and you start to hear the squealing when you brake. The more the indicator is uncovered, the more you are going to hear the noise. Not hearing it anymore just means that you've gone past it.
Pulling While Braking
If you notice that your car is pulled towards one direction or the other when you are braking, especially the harder you brake, that can be a sign that your brakes need to be replaced. That pulling generally happens because the brakes are wearing unevenly, and one side is more worn than the other. However, just because one side is more worn doesn't mean that you should only repair one side. You should have all your brakes repaired or replaced at the same time to try to alleviate that uneven wear situation. You should also talk to the mechanic about what might be causing that uneven wear.
Slower Braking
As your brakes wear out, it can take more time for your car to brake. There just isn't as much of the brake material, so they just aren't going to function as well. This means that you are going to see longer braking times and your car is going to be much less responsive when you hit the pedal. You might even feel like your brake pedal is a little mushy and like you have to mash your foot down harder in order to get the same response. This won't happen overnight, it is something that will happen over time, although you might not notice it until it becomes really obvious.
If you are worried about your brakes, it's important to know some of the signs that your brakes need to be replaced. Knowing those signs will help you get the repair as soon as possible.
To learn more about brakes, reach out to a local auto service.
