Do Brakes Need to Be Serviced?
It doesn’t matter if you have a long daily commute or only spend five minutes in your vehicle a day. Everyone needs their brakes functioning to guarantee their safety on the road. Your brakes are one of the most important safety features on your vehicle and allow you to stop when you need to. While people who are mechanically inclined may know more about how a cars brakes function, typical drivers don’t always have the answers. We’re always getting questions like “How do you know when your rear brakes are bad?” and “How much does it cost to get your brakes fixed?” Some people might not even know how a cars brake system functions, let alone when they need brake repair service.
How Do Brakes Work?
Your brakes allow you to slow down and stop when you depress the pedal, keeping you from crashing into other vehicles on the road. For typical disc brakes on cars, pushing the brake pedal pushes fluid through the system in your car to the calipers, which press the pistons and pads into the brake rotor, converting your cars kinetic energy into heat energy. If there is a problem with your brakes, you could be risking your safety every time you get in your car. There are plenty of signs to watch out for if you’re curious about when to repair brake pads or seek brake repair service. There are plenty of signs to watch out for if you’re curious about when to repair brake pads or have your car serviced.
Signs You Need Brake Repair
- Brake Light This a clear indicator that you need brake repair service. While your emergency brake may cause the light to come on, three are plenty of other issues with the system in your car that could light-up your dashboard.
- Grinding or Squealing Noises Your car will give you plenty of notifications if you’re having brake problems. Metallic noises while driving indicate that your brake pads are worn down and need replacing while grinding noises could mean there is something caught between the pad and the rotor, or that your pads have worn down so much that your rotors could be getting contact damage. Depending on your specific system, it could be a lack of lubrication or even corrosion.
- Wobbling or Steering Wheel Vibrations If you feel your steering wheel vibrating while applying the brakes, you could have an uneven rotor. They’ll rotate and have pressure applied to them over thousands of rotations, so the smallest difference in rotor size and height could create this problem. Your caliper piston might also be sticking and need service.
- Drifting If you notice your car drifting to one side, but only while slowing down, it’s probably not your car’s alignment. One caliper may be applying more pressure or one of the hoses might be damaged.
- Burning Smell This is a sign that your brakes may be overheating if the smell pops up when you apply them. If you smell something burning while accelerating, it’s probably not a sign that you need brake repair service.
- Soft Pedal Response If your brake pedal feels spongy when pressed, or if it drops to the floor, you could have one of two problems that require immediate service. Either you have moisture or air in your brake lines, which adversely affect your ability to drive safely, or you have an issue with your master cylinder, which is equally unsafe to drive with.
- Fluid Leak If you notice an incredibly slick fluid that is somewhere between yellow and brown, you may have a leaking brake line. Seek repair services to stop the leak and top-off your fluids for a safe driving experience.
What Does Brake Service Include?
If you’ve noticed one or more issues with your brakes, then your car will benefit from auto repair service. High-quality brake service covers every aspect of your brake system, so if you’re concerned with questions like “How long does it take to get brakes fixed?” you may have to wait a while. Mechanics have to check many different components to ensure they’re operating correctly while working on your vehicle. Proper brake repair service involves inspecting the the anti-lock brake system circuit light and brake light, the pedal, and the emergency brake before getting into the actual brake components. Then they’ll remove the tire so they can check the brake pads, rotors, calipers, hoses, and other components for corrosion, leaks, or damage. Once you or an experienced mechanic have determined what the problem is with your vehicles, you can move forward with the proper brake repairs.
Brake Repair Shops
Before you start searching the internet for “how to repair brake line leak,” consider the benefits of hiring a professional to handle your brake repair problems. It’s true that you could try to take care of your brakes yourself, but that can be risky if you haven’t worked on a vehicle before. If you’re worried about brake repair prices, and that’s why you’re attempting to diagnose and repair your brakes yourself, consider how much the price of brake repairs will increase if you damage your car while attempting to work on it. Professional service helps keep your vehicle, keeps you healthy and you safe behind the wheel, and minimizes your chances for needing more repairs in the immediate future. You would go to a professional contractor for storm damage roof repair, so why not trust your car to someone who takes care of vehicles for a living? When you’re looking for brake repair service in Venice, FL, contact the local professionals of Rolling Auto Service at 941-493-6511 for more information today.