There are certain parts of your car that must be working properly in order to keep you safe behind the wheel, and one of the most important parts is your brakes. How do you know when it is time to have your brakes checked and possibly replaced? According to the Denver German car repair experts at Mancinelli’s Auto Repair Center, here are some of the signs you have bad brakes:
Noise
Turn your radio down and listen closely to see if you hear any noise when you apply pressure to your brakes. If there are no issues, you shouldn’t hear a peep from your brakes. However, if you need to have your brake pads replaced or if you need more brake fluid, you could hear a grinding, ticking, or squealing noise when you hit the brakes. Any noise should be investigated immediately, but a grinding noise is typically the most serious. Grinding noises usually mean that the brake pads have worn down and need to be replaced.
Vibrations
If you feel vibrations when you press into the brake, you should bring your car into a repair center immediately. It’s possible that you will feel vibrations coming from the actual brake pedal, the steering wheel, or even your seat. Regardless of where you feel the vibrations, bring your car in to be inspected at once.
Loss of Responsiveness
Pay close attention to how your brakes respond to pressure as you drive. If your brakes are usually very sensitive, but you now have to press down until the brake pedal almost touches the floor, this means your brakes are becoming less responsive to pressure. This indicates that you have a problem with your brake system, and you should bring your vehicle into an auto repair expert right away.
Veering to the Side
If your car begins to veer off to one side every time you apply pressure to the brakes, this could mean that you brake linings have worn down unevenly. It could also indicate that there is something in the brake fluid, which means you would need to have it drained and then replaced. Learn about replacing brake fluid here.
Brake Light
You should check your dashboard every time your start your engine to see if any lights have turned on that signal a maintenance issue. One light that you may see turn on is the brake or Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) light. This usually means that you are running low on brake fluid, which could mean there is a leak somewhere in the system that needs to be repaired as soon as possible.
If you spot any of these signs, let the experts at Mancinelli’s Auto Repair Center check your brakes right away to ensure your car is safe to drive. You can schedule an appointment with Mancinelli's Auto Repair Center online, or you can also text us. We have same day services available on most repairs and we also offer our customers access to a convenient, free shuttle.