As one of your car’s most important safety features, knowing when to schedule brake service is key. Here, review signs indicating it’s time to replace the brakes or at least the pads that create friction when pressed against the brake rotor to stop your car. Brake pads wear down over time and require replacing to avoid warping the rotor and dealing with more expensive repairs.

What Are Some Signs You Need Brake Service Now?

1. Squealing

If you hear squealing sounds every time you apply the brakes, the pads are wearing down. Steel wear indicators make contact with the rotors to produce the noise when pads thin excessively and can eventually damage the rotors without timely brake service. If the pads wear through, squealing sounds graduate to grinding noises that signal rotor damage.

2. Vibrating

While vibrations sometimes point to vehicle misalignments, they can also mean the brake rotors have warped and need replacing. Uneven rotors result from severe braking in addition to worn pads, such as driving down long, steep hills regularly. Extreme braking of any kind stresses the auto parts to warp the rotors, especially if the pads are thin.

3. Pulling

Your car shouldn’t pull to the left or the right when you brake. As with vehicle vibrations, pulling can indicate a misalignment problem; however, if the brakes are to blame, pulling occurs only when you press the pedal. The problem indicates uneven pad wear, brake caliper or hose damage, or foreign objects such as metal shards in the part’s fluid.

4. Stopping

A soft or spongy brake pedal delays stopping time to decrease vehicle safety. Low-response pedals often hit the floor, making drivers feel like they have to “stand” on their brakes to stop. If you had this problem recently, there could be a fluid leak in the brake line. Without pressure from brake fluid, the rotors cannot squeeze the pads effectively, causing them to make less contact with the wheels for stopping purposes. 

If your vehicle experiences these or other brake issues, such as burning odors, contact Gill’s Automotive immediately. Located in Foley, AL, this auto repair center offers brake services that help drivers throughout Baldwin County stay safe on the road. Call (251) 943-8814 today to make an appointment or visit the website for brake service details. Visit Yelp for the latest reviews.