Fareed's Auto Service Blog: Tips, Advice and More

Hello and welcome! My name is Fareed, and this blog is about car repair. I plan to write about smash repair, body work, painting and other aspects of the industry. I also hope to include a few posts that will help you assess whether or not something is wrong with your car. I have worked on my own car for years, and recently, I've been embraced as the neighbourhood mechanic -- all my friends come to me for help. I'm not a professional mechanic, but I feel confident sharing this info with you as I've been working on cars for years. I am happy you found my blog and hope that you enjoy reading!

Are Your Car Brakes Failing? 3 Warning Signs to Watch Out For

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Your car's brakes aren't designed to last a lifetime. They will require repairs at some point and it's important that you repair them before your next car safety inspection. Many new car owners, especially those who have never dealt with cars before, may have a problem when it comes to detecting problematic brakes. Staying ahead of brake problems by being able to know when something is wrong will save you from not only costly repairs but also potentially dangerous situations on the road. Therefore, here are some of the warning signs that your vehicle needs brake repairs.

Strange Noises

Unusual sounds when you step on your brakes are some of the most common signs that the brakes are faulty. The noises will often vary depending on the specific brake problem and will usually change as it worsens. Squeaking, squealing or screeching sounds are usually a sign that your brake pads are in the early stages of wearing out. The metallic squeal is usually caused by the brake pad wear indicators. The wear indicator is a metallic component that will come into contact with the brake rotors first when the brake pads start wearing out. The sound may increase as the brake pads continue wearing down. If you ignore the problem at this stage, you will start hearing grounding sounds when you step on the brakes. This is usually quite dangerous because it indicates that the brake pads are completely worn out. The brake rotors can also be damaged at this stage, which can make the repairs significantly costly.

Spongy Brake Pedal

A spongy brake pedal is usually a result of air in the brake lines, which simply means there's a leak somewhere. In most cases, if your brake pedal is spongy, you will also notice brake fluid leaks underneath your vehicle. The leak could be in the master cylinder or anywhere else in your car's braking system. The brake fluid creates the hydraulic pressure that's needed to force the brake pads to press against the brake rotors and slow your car. If it leaks, there won't be enough pressure to do this, which is why you will experience a soft pedal.

Vibrations

Vibrations or pulsations in your brake pedal or steering wheel are other signs to watch out for. They are usually caused by warped brake rotors. You should have the brakes checked as soon as possible because the rotors can be re-machined, a cheaper solution than replacing them, which is what you will have to do if you ignore the problem.

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22 May 2018