How to Tell if My Car Is Having Brake Problems

Brake problems can be dangerous, which is why it’s a good idea to have your brakes inspected every 12,000 miles. This allows professional mechanics to find potential problems before they put you in a dangerous situation. Your brake system is the most important safety system in your automobile. Righteous Auto Care lists the signs of brake problems below.

Your ABS and brake light will turn on when you first start your automobile. This is because the system sensors are reporting that everything is okay to the main computer. The only other time your brake light will come on is when you have the parking brake set. If either of these lights comes on at any other time, your car has a brake system problem.

Brake fluid is either red or brown. When it is new, brake fluid is light brown. It turns dark brown as it ages. Brake fluid will leak from the brake system behind your wheels. If you see spots in this location on your garage floor, you may be leaking brake fluid from the brake lines. This can make driving your automobile dangerous.

You will be able to smell and hear your brakes if they are overheating. The brake system can get so hot that the brake fluid will start to boil. When this happens, you will smell burning chemicals. When the brake pads have glazed, they will smell like burning carpet. Your brakes will also squeal constantly if they are overheating.

If you have a problem with one of the rotor surfaces or a caliper, your vehicle may pull to the side when you apply the brakes. Know that if your vehicle pulls to the side while you are driving, this is not a brake problem but rather an alignment problem.

Your brake pedal resists your foot pressure the same way each time you press down on it. If that resistance changes and the pedal feels spongy or soft, you may have air in the brake lines or your master cylinder may be going bad. The pedal should never sink to the floor, either.

We talked about how brakes squeal when they overheat; they also squeal when the brake pads are too low. If the brake pads have worn away completely, your brakes will grind when you use them. This grinding sound can also sound like scraping.

Finally, if your rotor surfaces are warped, your vehicle may vibrate when you apply the brakes. Call or stop by Righteous Auto Care in Racine, WI , today if you suspect you have a brake system problem.