Top 5 Signs of Brake Trouble

When it comes to automotive safety, nothing is as important as healthy brakes. While seat belts and airbags are important in the event of an accident, it is your car's brakes that can prevent that accident from ever occurring. If you encounter any of the following signs of brake trouble, be sure to visit a local auto shop immediately. Remember, it is up to you to help maintain safe roadways for yourself and those you share the streets with by caring for your car's needs.

Grinding Noise

One of the most common signs of brake trouble is a grinding noise that occurs when you hit the brakes. This is a clear indication that the brake pads have worn thin and are in need of replacement. The sound that you are hearing is the metal of the frame that holds the pads grinding against the brake rotor or drum.

Pulling/Veering

If your vehicle pulls to the left or right when you hit the brakes it is probable that uneven brake pad wear is occurring. However, there may be a more detrimental issue happening, such as contaminated brake fluid or a malfunctioning wheel cylinder.

Soft Brake Pedal

Does your car's brake pedal now rest closer to the floor, or is more easily pushed to the floor? This likely means that the brake pads are low and need to be replaced as soon as possible. More serious concerns that can cause this problem include air in the brake lines or a dangerous brake fluid leak.

Vibrating Brake Pedal

A shaky brake pedal may indicate that your vehicle's brake rotors are warped. This problem can occur under normal driving circumstances after many miles on the road, but it needs to be fixed ASAP. Warped rotors will decrease the surface area of the rotor that is available to the brake pads, which will ultimately lead to increased stopping distances.

ABS Light

The anti-lock braking system (ABS) light is essentially the check engine light of the brakes. If this dashboard warning light illuminates, head to the shop for proper diagnostics as soon as possible, as a sensor in the system has detected an issue.

Putting off brake repair when a problem is obvious is not only irresponsible, it is downright dangerous. For professional brake repair in Portland, visit the team at Comfort Auto & Body Repair. If you don't let us fix your brakes, we may end up having to fix your car in our body shop! To learn more about this issue, or to schedule expert auto repair in Portland, give us a call at (503) 782-5388. With more than 20 years of service in Portland, we're proud to be your source for quality car care.

Comfort Auto and Body Repair Blog

Written and Published By MORBiZ