Signs Of Brake Problems In Cars And How To Deal With Them

No matter what kind of a vehicle it is- motored or otherwise, it’s hard to even imagine driving it without sturdy and well-performing brakes.

In other words, brakes are one of the most essential and most used components in vehicles. With regards to your vehicle,these are the parts that should offer maximum service and performance but also face a lot of wear and tear in normal use.

So is your car facing some troubles which possibly denote brake problems in the vehicle?

If so, you need to know the major signs of brake troubles in your car so that you can mitigate them in a timely manner and not face any undue breakdowns or mishaps, or accidents.

But before this, let us know the reasons why you experience all these symptoms:

Why You Experience Brake Troubles?

While you get your car serviced routinely serviced, brake servicing is one of the most important activities as a part of it.

Brakes and its components have a definite lifespan and they need to be serviced or replaced regularly in order to work properly and ensure your vehicle can be safely operated.

But when the services of these brake parts exceed their lifespan, it usually offers you some symptoms requiring their refurbishing or replacement. In the beginning, these noises are typically harmless and could be fixed rather simply.

But when you ignore these initial warnings, the repairs become more substantial and could lead to the failure of the entire system.

So if you notice any signs of failure from the brakes, do call an expert mechanic and get the trouble fixed soon. Timely fixes will not only make your drives safer but also save much on future expenses.

Signs Of Brake Problems in Cars:

Mentioned below are some of the major symptoms which appear due to brake troubles in a car:

Fluid Leakage:

Sometimes, you may experience a soft brake pedal. This could be due to the fluid leaks in the master cylinder or anywhere else in the brake system.

The Master Cylinder is designed to activate the brakes and contains a reservoir of brake fluid. When the brakes are applied, hydraulic pressure is created as it pushes the fluid through thin piping to each wheel to apply the brakes.

And if the fluid leaks from the system, the cylinder may not be able to generate enough pressure to the brake pads to clamp firmly to the rotors.

Brake Warning Lights:

If you view either the yellow (ABS) or the red brake indicators lighting up on your dashboard, this implies the need for an inspection. The RED lamp is especially serious and indicates that there is a hydraulic defect somewhere in the system and must be addressed immediately. The yellow ABS light isn’t as serious, and could be the smart electronic system of your vehicle notifying you of the probable trouble.

In any such case, you ought to see an expert soon.

Unreasonable Noises From The Vehicle:

Noises could indicate anything, but when talking about brake troubles, there are certainly identifiable noises such as:

• When you hear a kind of metallic squeal- a kind of high-pitched noise when the car is in motion or when the brakes are applied, it’s probably the brake pad wear indicators. These are made of steel and could utter noises when in contact with the rotor.
• When you hear grinding noises when the brakes are applied, these too could indicate a number of things. This will more than likely be the result of overly worn brake pads or shoes where the metal frame of the pad is now contacting (and damaging) the brake rotor when the brakes are applied. Other possibilities could be a small rock or piece of gravel stuck in the caliper system, lack of lubrication or rusted or corroded components.

In case you experience any such noise, it is essential to get your vehicle inspected soon. Many times, these noises will eventually result in an expensive repair if continued to be neglected.

Soft Brake Pedal:

If you have a vehicle with power brakes, the brake pedal normally stops about 1.5 inches above the floor and in case of manual brakes, it stays more than 3 inches.

But while you experience some difference in its resistance, such as it appears harder to apply or gets pressed down to the floor mat, this is the time when you need to get it fixed.

Master cylinder troubles, moisture contamination of the brake fluid or a defective brake-booster will affect braking system performance and cause these symptoms.

Wobbly Or Vibrational Feel When Braking:

The surfaces which the brake-pads contact to cause the vehicle to stop are the brake rotors which are situated inside the wheels.

When the brake is applied, the brake pads come in contact with the rotors and slow your vehicle down. And these rotors need to be completely even and smooth to work perfectly.

But with time and wheel revolutions, the rotor surfaces experience slight variations and need to be smooth ened during the servicing. Even the slightest differences (say one-thousandth of an inch) in the thickness of the disc could lead to a wobbly effect, requiring their machining or resurfacing.

Sometimes, the brake calipers which are responsible to push the brake pads against the rotors, may not release properly. This will result in accelerated brake wear and a pull to one side when braking.

Also, you can experience bumpy braking when the wheel lug nuts are not installed improperly, leading to damage to your brake components.

So if you experience any kind of wobbling through the steering wheel or rear or the vehicle, vibration or bumps while braking, consult an expert soon.

Burning Smell During The Drive:

If you come across a chemical odor when braking repeatedly, this could indicate overheated clutch or brakes.

If this happens, you need to stop the car immediately and check the parking brake to ensure it is fully released. Following this, you need to allow the brakes to cool down to prevent further damages and complete brake failure.

Car pulling To One Side When Applying Brakes:

When the brake hose gets worn or when it’s a caliper trouble, you could experience the car pulling itself to one side when the brakes are applied.

This is due since one of the brake calipers would apply more pressure while braking than the other, causing an unbalanced halt.

These are some of the major signs that indicate a probable braking trouble in your car and need an expert to hand-fix soon.

 

How To Fix The Braking Troubles:

Just as each of the braking troubles is distinct in nature, it is essential to identify it clearly and get the best possible aid.

Some of the ways to fix your car’s brake troubles are as follows:

• If you suspect leakage in the brake fluid, check its level under the bonnet. You can use your car’s user manual to locate the master cylinder if you are not well versed with this procedure. If the fluid levels are optimum, there could be some internal trouble in the cylinder.
• From inside the passenger compartment underneath the dash, view the master cylinder situated above the brake pedal and ensure no leakage. Also check in the engine compartment especially if it has a vacuum-booster. If it has an external leak, you need the assistance of a professional mechanic to get it replaced.
• If your car pulls to one side while braking, you need a special maintenance kit to clean and lubricate the probable stuck caliper. You may also have to replace it completely if it is beyond repair or service. This will also save you time and money in the future.
• Improper balancing of the car during braking is also possible due to a blocked or leaking brake hose, worn rotors, worn master cylinder or leakage in the brake fluid. Therefore, you need to have the trouble correctly diagnosed before taking any action.
• If you feel vibrational movements, wobbles or shakes, it’s the rotors that need to be resurfaced. And if they are too thin or worn out, you need to get them replaced.
• When you hear noises during driving or when applying the brakes, this could indicate a number of things including excessively worn brake pads or missing anti-rattle clips or shims. And to confirm the source of the noise, you need to see an expert mechanic soon.

 

Experiencing signs or brake troubles in your car is normal after thousands of miles of service. But when you ignore them, they do not remain normal for long, and the result is very abnormal brake response and reduced vehicle safety.

Therefore, while you suspect any such troubles in your car, have them fixed correctly and consult the best vehicle mechanics as soon as possible. This is required since the consequences of complete brake failures during your drives could be deadly.

And if you feel unsafe to even drive the vehicle to a mechanic’s location, you can call the best servicemen right to your doorsteps.

For instance, if you are a resident of Los Angeles, you can call ASE-certified vehicle mechanics and inspectors from ‘Car Inspectors’ to offer high-quality onsite vehicle repairs.

Besides this, you can also call them to get onsite used vehicle inspections at really affordable costs.

So do not sit back to wait for the troubles and safety to get worse. Consult the experts and get the best aid as soon as you can!