The brake system is a critical part of the car. You need to
know when your brakes are bad so you can replace them. Otherwise, the brakes
may fail you when you need them most — in an emergency. Here are some of the
signs that mean you should replace your brakes.
The Brakes Are Noisy
Although brakes work on the principle of friction, car
manufacturers have designed brakes with minimal noise. Thus, you should suspect
that something is wrong with your brakes if they are unusually noisy.
Many cars come with sensors that alert you when your brakes
are worn out. When the brake pads are too worn out, the sensors scrape against
the brake disc and produce a screeching sound when you apply the brakes. Some
people also describe the noise as scraping. In short, check your brakes for
wear if you hear unusual metallic sounds when you push the brake pedal.
The Pedals Pulsate
You should also suspect damaged brakes if the brake pedal
pulsates when you brake. The pulsations or vibrations typically only occur when
you brake lightly or moderately. Note that light brake vibrations are normal
with cars that have antilock braking systems. Thus, you shouldn't rely on the
vibrations alone if your car has an antilock braking system.
However, you should suspect damaged brakes if the vibrations
occur even when the antilock braking system is disengaged. The vibrations occur
when the brake rotors are warped and not able to make efficient contact with
the brake pads.
The Brakes Are Unresponsive
Cars typically come with responsive brakes that you don't
have to stomp on to produce an effect. Typically, the brakes start to work as
soon as you start to put pressure on the brake pedal. The responsiveness
disappears when your brakes have undergone too much wear.
In such a case, you may find that you have to press the
brake pedal fully to the floor to slow your vehicle down. An unresponsive brake
increases your braking distance because the brake doesn't work when you first
press on the pedal. Such a brake system is dangerous since you might fail to
stop in time in case of an emergency.
The Car Pulls When Braking
A properly aligned car shouldn't pull to either side when
you press the brake pedal. Several malfunctions can make your car pull to one
side, and a worn-out brake is one of them. Pulling occurs when the wear has
affected the brakes unevenly.
When you press the brake pedal, the braking force is more
effective on one side of the car than the other. Thus, the car pulls to the
side with thicker brakes because the wheels on that side stop faster than the
wheels on the opposite side of the car.
The Brake Pads Are Thin
Lastly, the most definitive way to know that your brakes
have outlived their usefulness is to look at the thickness of the brake pads.
The friction between the brake rotor and the brake pads is what makes the
wheels to stop their spin and stop the car. The brake pads lose their necessary
braking force when they lose their recommended thickness.
As such, brake pad inspection should be part of the regular
car service. When you take your car for oil change, for example, you should
also ask the mechanic to check the thickness of the brake pad and follow the
mechanic's recommendations after that.
Contact us or bring your car to Dualtone if you have
noticed any of the above signs of brake problems. We will diagnose and fix the
brake problem whether it calls for new brakes or not. Don't forget that with
brake problems, any delay increases the risk of road accidents.
