Does Your Car Need Brake Service? Watch for These Red Flags!
ShareEach time you get behind the wheel of your vehicle, you rely on thousands of moving parts to get you safely from point A to point B. Your brakes, brake pads, and rotors are among the most heavily utilized and most important. Unfortunately, many drivers simply don't understand how to tell when their vehicle needs new brakes or another related repair. While most brakes will need replacing around 50,000 miles or so, this can vary greatly depending on whether your driving is mostly city or highway miles.
By being on the lookout for common "red flags" or imminent brake problems--and of course, by having your vehicle serviced and inspected regularly--you can better determine when your car is in need of brake repair services.
Squeaking and Squealing
When you depress your car's brake pedal, do you notice a high-pitched squealing or screeching sound? If so, this could be due to one of two things. The first is harmless; your brakes may squeal because the pads have become wet with rain or other precipitation. If this is the case, you'll likely hear the squeaking noise until the precipitation stops and your brake pads dry off. Then, the noise should stop.
On the other hand, ongoing squealing or squeaking could be a sign of worn brake pads. In fact, most brake pad manufacturers these days design their pads so that they will squeal noticeably when they're in need of replacement.
Stuttering and Shuddering
When you press down on your brake pedal, your car should come to a smooth and confident stop. If you notice any shuddering or vibrations coming from the front end of your car while you're braking, this is a sure sign that the rotors have become warped and will likely need replacing. This generally only happens after a need for new brake pads has been ignored for too long, as this can eventually lead to rotor damage.
Pulling to One Side
Finally, when your vehicle is coming to a stop, do you notice that it seems to "pull" or veer to one side? If so, and if this is an ongoing issue, this is another sign that your brakes may need to be serviced. Of course, this can also be due to other issues (such as poor alignment or imbalanced tires), so you'll want to bring your car into a trusted auto repair professional to find out what exactly is causing your car to pull to one side.