Know the signs of visible wear, screeching sounds, and other symptoms of a brake that needs immediate attention!

When it comes to maintaining your vehicle, it is absolutely paramount to ensure that the brakes are always in perfect condition. After all, you use your car to transport your children every day and want to keep them as safe as possible.

A well-functioning set of brakes, of course, is an essential feature, and its impact on performance and safety should never be underestimated. Keep reading to learn more about how to recognize the signs that your car might need brake repair!

Visible wear.

Let’s face it: most of us don’t make a habit of crawling underneath our vehicle to check the condition of our brakes. To a trained eye, however, distressed brakes often display visible signs of wear and tear. For instance, you might find that there is something that just doesn’t look right with your brake pads. Ideally, the pad should be at least 1/4 inch, but in some cases, it can be too closely pressed against the brake’s metallic rotor.When this happens, you should definitely consider replacing your car’s brake pad as soon as possible

Unusual screeching noises.

For most of us, this is the most obvious sign that something isn’t right with our brakes. At times, worn-out brakes are actually quite easy to recognize due to the sound they make when in use. If your car is making a screeching, high-pitched squeal whenever you stomp on the brakes, you can take it as a very common warning sign. These noises are an indicator that there is something wrong, and that the brake pads need to be replaced. If you want to make sure you can hear this particular sound, try rolling your windows down. The screeching should be definitely loud enough for you to hear it even in a high-traffic area. However, you might miss it if your windows are all the way up, and if you have music and/or AC on.

Although noises and screeching sounds are a good indication of a brake pad that needs to be replaced, it is not always the case. At times, you can actually experience similar sounds after your vehicle has been exposed to rainfall or to water after a wash. The moisture build-up could allow the formation of a layer of rust on the brake rotors. This is a fairly common occurrence, and there isn’t anything to worry about, unless the sound persists overtime. If the noise is indeed caused by this issue, the rust normally comes off relatively soon as you drive and use your brakes, and the noise should stop.

If you hear screeching noises and high-pitched squeals, it is highly recommended to book an appointment with your mechanic as soon as possible.

Compromised operation.

If your vehicle has brake issues, you might experience reduced responsiveness, as well as other problems, such as excessive vibrations, pulsation noises, and more. If you have a feeling that your brakes aren’t working as they should or if the brake pedal is feeling funny, do not take chances. Take your vehicle to the nearest car maintenance professional for an assessment. As mentioned earlier, brakes are vital to the performance of the vehicle and to the security of the passengers, even though they are often overlooked when it comes to car maintenance.

Here’s to safe and happy driving!