Listen To Your Brakes And They Will Tell You When It Is Time For Service
The brakes in your vehicle can do a pretty good job of letting you know when they need service. You just have to listen to the sounds they make and how they feel when you use them. Most of the time, there are signs that the brakes on your vehicle are worn and need to be replaced if you are paying attention.
Brake Sounds
The brakes on your car, truck, or SUV may start to squeal a little as you are using them, and while that squeal is not necessarily a problem, it can alert you to the fact the brake pads are starting to glaze from use. Glazing is typically a result of heat building up in the pads and is most common in cars that spend a lot of time in traffic and using the brake a lot.
Grinding noises are also something to pay attention to. If you put your foot on the brake pedal and it sounds like a train stopping, there is very likely no friction material on the brake pads, and the grinding is the contact between the pads and the brake rotor. In either case, the vehicle should go in for disc brake service so that a technician can check the pads, rotors, and the rest of the system for you.
Soft Brake Pedal
Another sign that can be telling about your brake system is a soft brake pedal. If the pedal feels spongy or like it is traveling further than usual, it may be an indication of air in the brake lines or brake pads that have to travel further than expected to make contact with the rotor or disc in the brake system.
If there is air in the system, you need to take the vehicle in for disc brake service because the system is supposed to be a closed-loop and that soft pedal may indicate a leak somewhere in the system. If air is getting in, the brake fluid may be getting out, and the brakes may fail as a result if this goes uncorrected.
Brake Inspections
Most brake shops will do a free brake inspection for you and then let you know if they find a problem that needs correcting. Take your car or truck to a shop specializing in disc brake service to be sure that they will do the job right if you are concerned about using your regular mechanic, but any shop that knows brakes can do the work. The systems are pretty simple and one of the first things most mechanics are trained to do.
Contact a local disc brake service to learn more.