3 Signs You Need Your Brakes Checked

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In order to drive your vehicle safely, you want to make sure that your brakes are operating like they should. After miles of driving and braking, your brake pads begin to wear down and your car will start to give you signs that you are ready to get your overall braking system checked. Here are 3 signs you should consider brake service for your vehicle.

Squealing or grinding when braking

If you notice an audible squealing or feel a slight vibration in your brakes when stopping your car, then the metal rivets exposed in your worn brake pads may be rubbing against your rotors. This metal-on-metal effect gets worse as your brake pads show increasing wear. The vibration can also mean that your brake rotors are warped and need replacement. A rattling, tin can sound can be an indicator that there is a rock stuck in your brakes, which should also be addressed by a brake service technician.

Brake noises with your foot off the brake

Many cars are equipped with brake wear indicators designed to alert the driver when their brakes are wearing out. If your brakes are very bad, you will hear a squealing or feel a firm vibration in your vehicle with the slightest pressure on the brake, or without even engaging the brake at all. If this is happening, get your car to a brake specialist as soon as you can as this can be a very serious sign that your brakes are completely worn out.

Uneven brake pad wear

Your vehicle's brake pads are placed on either side of your tire and should wear out evenly. If they don't, then there may be issues with your rotors, caliper pistons, overheating calipers, or your brake pads may be incorrectly installed. Your brake service specialist can examine your brake pads and diagnose what is causing them to wear out unevenly and make repairs so you have smooth-working brakes again.

As soon as you notice an issue with your brakes, your wisest option is to see a brake service repair specialist right away to help diagnose the issue and make repairs before the brake pads are too worn out to fix. Since there are many underlying issues that can cause your brakes to fail, from overheating calipers to warped rotors, having a professional look at your braking system is the best way to ensure that your vehicle will run safely for years to come.

To learn more, contact a company like Buettner Tire & Auto

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21 January 2016

Keep Your Vehicle Safe

Hello. My name’s Samuel Jacobs. I retired from my job as an auto mechanic last year. During my years as a mechanic, I had the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life. Some have remained friends to this day. When I was working, there is one thing that I came across at least weekly. That is how uneducated people are when it comes to their vehicle’s tires. Properly cared for tires are crucial to the safety of your vehicle. Without them, your car isn’t going anywhere. If they give out on you while you are driving, there is the potential for serious injury. I’m going to share some tire safety information here. Things like the importance of correct inflation, how to check the tread, when to replace tires, tire rotation, and what to do in case of a blow-out. I hope you find this information to be helpful.