BRAKE SERVICES

It is a good practice to have a certified mechanic check your brakes twice a year, as part of your car’s regular maintenance, along with having your tires rotated and balanced. This will assure that your brakes continue to work properly, and is essential in making your vehicle safe to drive.

Paying attention to the warning signs that indicate a need for brake service can mean the difference in your personal safety and potentially reduce the need for greater future repair costs to your vehicle..

A grinding sound, not to be confused with a squeal, which is prevalent in most late model cars. In either of these cases, you should visit your local mechanic for a brake check as soon as possible.

Most cars today use disc brakes. A hydraulic system filled with brake fluid triggers a set of padded clamps (calipers) causing them to squeeze the rotor. The friction that occurs between the pads and rotor ensures that the car stops. Over time, the pads will begin to wear, often causing a squealing sound from the wear indicator. If ignored, the pads will continue to wear, resulting in metal on metal grinding which can damage the calipers and hoses, resulting in a much more costly repair.

This may be due to a stuck caliper which causes friction on one wheel and not the others, resulting in your car pulling to the side where the caliper is stuck.
Another brake-related problem that could cause a car to pull would be a collapsed brake hose reducing fluid pressure causing the vehicle to pull to the right or the left. If your car begins to pull, you’ll want to get it to your mechanic’s shop to be checked properly.

A vibrating brake pedal indicates warped rotors. This is normal wear and tear that occurs differently depending on the vehicle and driving conditions. This can often be detected either by a pulsation or vibration in the brake pedal or steering column.

If the brake pedal feels inconsistent or sinks to the floor, this likely indicates a problem with the hydraulic system, such as leak, which needs to be inspected immediately.