We’ve all been there. When driving home from work, you know that if you speed six miles over the speed limit, you will avoid all the red lights. Eventually, some traffic slows down your pace and you end up having to stop. Normally this isn’t a problem, but all of the sudden a strange sound is coming from your car. Brakes are usually one of the last things anyone wants to think about, but it is important to catch a problem as early as possible.
How to Diagnose a Brake Problem
Turn off any distracting sounds, like music or air conditioning, and drive the car slowly, braking often. Here are seven of the most common signs there is a problem with your brakes and their solutions.
1. The brake light on the dashboard turns on
This is usually a sign to check the brake fluid – an easy purchase and vitally important. However, this can also happen if you leave the hand brake on, so be sure to check this if you have enough fluid.
2. Squealing brakes
Squealing sounds usually indicate that the brake pads need to be replaced. It is also possible that the rotors will have to be resurfaced. This can be hard to notice if you have an older car without brake sensors.
3. Swerving when braking
The car will pull predominately to the left or right. This works similar to the human brain. If it is pulling to the left, the right side of your vehicle has the problem. If it is pulling to the right, the left side has the problem. The solution is to replace the respective brake hose.
4. Jerking or uneven stopping
This is due to uneven ware and tear on front brake rotors and they will need to be repaired or replaced.
5. Delayed brakes
This is caused by air or fluid getting into the brake lines. It can also mean the car is running low on brake fluid.
6. Grinding
A grinding sound means bad news. The car will have to have the rotors or drums repaired or replaced.
7. Odor
Even the most oblivious of drivers will notice the smell of bad brakes. This could be a sign that the brake caliper or wheel cylinder is stuck. Another common sense fix is that the hand brake was left on.
These common signs of brake damage are vital to diagnosing the problem. Unfortunately, this is not a problem that will work itself out. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, please do not ignore these subtle signs. The sooner you fix the issue, the less amount of money you are likely to spend.
About Carol Leginus
Carol Leginus is responsible for the administration/maintenance of Uni-Select public websites. She supports e-commerce, e-business and data warehouse initiatives.
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