According to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 20% of car accidents that take place in the U.S. are the result of bad brakes. If people were more conscious about maintaining their brakes, there might be fewer car crashes occurring each year.
You should make it a point to look out for any brake problems that you might be experiencing with your car. If you sense that something might be going on with your brakes, having brake repair done ASAP will be of the utmost importance.
We've created a list of seven signs that will suggest you may have brake problems. You should schedule a brake inspection right away if you spot any of these signs.
1. The Brake Light on Your Dashboard Is Lit Up
There are a number of lights that might suddenly appear on your dashboard at any given moment. One of these lights will be a light for your brakes.
If this light comes on, it might simply be an indication that you need to schedule a brake service. But it might also mean that there is an issue with your brakes that you'll need to deal with sooner rather than later.
Either way, you should make an appointment with a local brake repair specialist so that you can have your car's brakes looked at and fixed if necessary.
2. Your Brakes Are Squeaking and/or Squealing All the Time
If your car's brakes squeak and/or squeal for a few seconds and then stop, there probably isn't anything wrong with them. It may just mean that a foreign object got caught in them momentarily.
But if your car's brakes squeak and/or squeal all the time, it'll be a much different story. In this case, your brake pads might be worn down. There are actually metal wear indicators in most brake pads that will create a squeaking and/or squealing sound when they come into contact with the brake rotors.
If this is happening, you'll need to have your old brake pads replaced with new ones as soon as you can. Otherwise, your brake pads will continue to wear down and eventually cause much bigger problems. They could potentially even put you and other drivers at risk.
3. Your Brakes Are Grinding Loudly
When your car's brakes are squeaking and/or squealing, you might be able to ignore the sounds that you hear at first. But when your car's brakes are grinding, it'll be impossible for you to escape the sounds that they produce.
You won't want to be behind the wheel of a car that has brakes that are grinding. First and foremost, it's going to give you a huge headache before you know it. It's also going to make it more difficult than it should be to bring your car to a stop.
When your brakes are grinding, it's often because of major issues with your brake pads. You should schedule a brake repair service immediately to bring the grinding to a halt.
4. Your Steering Wheel Vibrates When You Hit Your Brakes
It can be scary when you hit the brake pedal in your car, and your whole steering wheel starts to shake. However, this is what will typically happen when brake rotors begin to go bad.
Over time, the surface of brake rotors can wear down, which will result in brake pads creating brake friction when you hit your gas pedal. This will inevitably lead to your steering wheel shaking a little bit, and it could even lead to your whole car shaking if you aren't careful.
A brake repair specialist should be able to either smooth out your brake rotors for you or replace them altogether. Either way, it'll stop your car from continuing to shake when you hit the brakes.
5. Your Brake Fluid Is Leaking
You should always keep a close eye out for any fluids that might be leaking from your car. You don't want to allow oil, coolant, or any other fluid to leak because it could leave your car without the fluids that it needs to operate.
Brake fluid doesn't leak as often as oil or coolant. But every now and then, you might find that your braking system has sprung a leak and allowed some brake fluid to work its way out. When this happens, you'll be able to see a light yellow or brown fluid in the vicinity of your car's tires.
The first thing you'll want to do is have a brake repair specialist fix whatever is causing the brake fluid to leak from your car. Then, you'll want to refill the brake fluid so that your braking system isn't trying to work without it.
6. Your Brakes Feel Spongy
When you push your car's brake pedal, does it go almost all the way down to the floor? This is an indication that you have brakes that are too spongy. This may be because you have air or moisture trapped somewhere in your braking system.
You might also have spongy brakes caused by a bad master cylinder. This could be a major cause for concern and will need to be dealt with accordingly.
7. Your Brakes Smell Like They're Burning
Anytime you sense that a portion of your car smells like it's burning, it's a good idea to pull over right away to assess the situation. It'll be especially important to do this when your brakes smell like they may be burning.
The issue might just be that you've been using your brakes too often, and they're overheating. In this instance, allowing them to cool off and taking it easy on them could fix the problem.
But you might also have a brake caliper that is locked up and causing a burning smell. This is a more serious issue that is going to force you to seek brake repair services quickly.
Call Us To Schedule Brake Repair Right Away
Are you experiencing issues with the brakes in your car? Our service center near Youngstown, Ohio, can provide you with the brake repair and brake inspection service that you need.
Contact us today to arrange to have brake service performed sometime soon.
Image Credits: Image of Brakes by Ben Brunner is licensed with Unsplash License