Of all your car’s parts, the brakes are one of the most crucial to your safety. Therefore, when they start to wear out or malfunction, you’ll want to act immediately. Use the following list of warning signs to determine when to take your vehicle to an auto repair center.

3 Common Signs of Brake Problems

1. Burning Smell or Smoke

Excessive heat is never good for auto parts, and your brakes are no exception. Therefore, if you smell a pungent, burning odor or see smoke floating up after coming to a quick halt, you’ll want to give your brakes a break. Pull over to the side of the road so that the brake fluid can cool down—if you keep driving, it may start to boil and destroy your brakes. Then, take your car to an auto repair center to find out if you need a fluid change, caliper repair, or a pad replacement.

2. Soft Pedal

Another clear sign of brake issues can be felt from the driver’s seat. When you press down on the brake pedal, you should feel some firm resistance. If instead, it feels like you’re stepping down on a sponge, and you must floor it to get a response, you should head to an auto repair center. This issue indicates air bubbles or water inside the system, which will need to be emptied by a professional.

3. Grinding Noise

The next time you press down on the brakes, listen to the sound your car makes. If you hear a metallic, grinding noise, the brake pads have likely become threadbare. These are the parts that the rotors grab onto to create the friction that stops the wheels from spinning. Over time, they’ll wear away, allowing the metal to grind against metal. In this instance, instead of the pads—which are easily replaceable—deteriorating, your rotors are being damaged. Therefore, it’s important to stop driving and schedule auto repairs right away.

If you notice any of these issues with your vehicle, reach out to Trester Used Auto Parts of Milford, OH. They’ve been serving area drivers since 1955, offering everything from brake pad replacements to transmission repair. Whether you have a foreign or domestic vehicle, you can count on their auto repair team to provide the right parts for a fair price. To learn more about their offerings, call (513) 831-9141.