Five Warnings Signs of Potential Brake Failure

Every piece that makes up your car, truck or SUV plays a crucial role in operating the vehicle and maximizing your safety. When parts begin to deteriorate with time and use, you not only face the possibility of a broken-down automobile, but also the reality of causing an accident that harms other people and property. As you drive around town, it’s essential to keep an eye out for these brake failure warning signs in Athens County, OH.

Are your brakes failing?

When your brakes fail, there may be several signs that indicate the problem. For example, grinding brakes in Athens County, OH imply a severe failure of your brake pads. Warning signs vary in intensity and duration, which puts the onus on drivers to identify these symptoms and address them with help from a professional as soon as possible:

• Noises when you brake: As you approach a red light or stop sign and press down on the brake pedal, you should not hear any screeching, squealing or scraping. These sounds indicate you’ve worn the brakes down to the shim, a mechanism added explicitly to make a noise to warn about brake failure. Most describe the shim’s sound as a screech, but it varies. If you apply the brakes and hear any unusual noise, take your vehicle to a repair shop immediately.
• Grinding noise: Unlike the familiar screech of a brake’s shim, when your brake pads fail, you’ll hear a growling or grinding noise. This sound indicates the brake pads need replacement, not repair. Never ignore grinding brakes in Athens County, OH—instead, seek professional service right away.
• Decreased responsiveness: Your car’s wheels should stop rotating when you hit the brakes. While there’s still forward motion propelling your vehicle, braking should happen quickly. Over time, the responsiveness of your brakes decreases due to standard wear and tear. Just because brakes eventually wear down naturally doesn’t mean you should ignore this warning sign. Doing so may cause a collision with another vehicle or a pedestrian.
• Pulling sensation: As you drive, you may notice your vehicle’s steering pull to one side or the other. This indicates a problem with your alignment. However, when you push down on the brake pedal, and then your vehicle pulls to one direction, this means there’s an issue with the braking system. The problem varies in these scenarios, from foreign matter in the braking fluid to unevenly worn brake linings.
• Vibration when braking: You might feel this vibration or wobbly sensation via the brake pedal or the steering wheel. Either way, this indicates issues with your brake rotors. Several causes may lead to uneven wear on rotors, but in any case, you need to have a professional look at your brakes to diagnose and repair the problem.

The longer you neglect any brake failure warning signs in Athens County, OH, the more costly it will be to fix your vehicle. Furthermore, ignoring these indicators puts you and others in harm’s way. Rather than causing a collision, get in touch with us today to schedule an appointment with one of the brake technicians at Dana’s Tire Center.

Categorised in: Brake Service

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