Among essential car maintenance practices, brake service is by far one of the most important, but it also tends to be one of the most overlooked. Your brakes are made up of an intricate system of components to regulate speed and provide effective stopping on demand, and over time these wear down, requiring replacement or repairs. Luckily, there are some reliable indicators of a need for brake maintenance. Read through the list below to learn more about them.

How to Tell if You’re in Need of Brake Servicing

1. Vibration When Braking

When you depress the brake pedal, the result should be a smooth and even reduction in speed. Unusual vibrations are typically indications of a problem with the brake pads, the devices that slow the wheel, or with the rotor, which the pads adhere to when braking.

Brake components are typically subjected to thousands of wheel revolutions in a year, which can result in uneven wear to the surface of the pads and the rotors. Dirt and rust can also build up, creating a skewed surface that wobbles when braking. During a brake service, these deformities can be identified and smoothed out, or the components can be replaced altogether.

2. Squealing or Grinding Noises

Hearing squealing or grinding can be the result of gravel or debris caught in the brake assembly, but if it’s persistent, then it’s likely an indication of worn-out pads. Brake pads are made of steel, which comes into contact with moving parts every time you travel, and this friction wears away the material over time, leaving them in need of replacement. If you ignore this sound for too long, the worn brake pads could cause damage to the rotors, requiring far more expensive repairs, which can easily be prevented by timely servicing.

3. Uneven Pull When Braking

It’s not uncommon for brake pads to wear unevenly. Common causes of uneven wear include improper installation of the wheel lug nuts, which hold the wheel assembly on the car’s frame, or one brake caliper may be applying too much pressure when drawing together the pad and the rotor.

If your car is pulling to one side when braking, this can damage your steering equipment and leave a variety of bearings and joints misaligned, requiring expensive repairs and adjustments. To address this problem, take your car in for brake servicing and consider replacing the brake pads entirely to ensure even wear and braking.

    Don’t ignore the signs when your car is braking unevenly or unreliably. Bring it in for brake service at Moore & Son’s Automotive in Anchorage, AK. Since 1987, these expert local automotive technicians have offered the best in maintenance and repairs, earning the Anchorage Daily News’ recommendation as Alaska’s #1 car repair shop. To schedule service, call (907) 561-1994.