Your car, truck, or utility vehicle may wobble when you apply the brakes if the rotor surfaces need to be recut. This service is generally recommended every 60,000 miles. The vehicle may also wobble if there is road debris stuck in the calipers. These are just two brake problems that we can fix here at our auto repair shop. Here are other signs your brake system needs to be serviced or repaired.
Illuminated Brake Light
You may end up with an illuminated Brake or ABS light on your vehicle’s dashboard if there is a brake system problem. The brake system is the most important safety system on your automobile. As such, it is crucial that you head straight to our shop if either light turns on.
Strange Braking Noises
In addition to wobbling and dashboard warnings, your brakes may make strange noises if they are going bad. Specifically, common sounds that brake systems make include grinding, squealing, and scraping. This can be a sign that there is a problem with the brake pads or the brakes are overheating.
Leaking Brake Fluid
Your automobile may also start to leak brake fluid if the brake hoses are too old and crack. The brake system can also leak fluid out of the master cylinder. Either way, you cannot stop your automobile without fluid in the brake system, so have the fluid leaks fixed as soon as possible.
Squishy Brake Pedal
A squishy brake pedal is a sign that you have air in the brake lines. The brake lines need to be bled to remove this air to ensure that your car slows down and stops every time you press down on the brake pedal. As an aside, a squishy brake pedal can also be a sign that the master cylinder has gone bad.
Pulling to the Side
If your automobile pulls to the side, you likely have a stuck caliper on that wheel. To prevent this from happening, plan to have the calipers replaced every 75,000 miles. This helps to ensure that they never get stuck while you are driving your automobile.
Overheating/Hot Odors
Finally, we mentioned above that the brakes will squeal if they overheat. They will also smell hot. Specifically, if the brake fluid is too hot, you will smell burning chemicals. If the brake pads are too hot, you will smell burning carpet.
Call us today to schedule a service visit for your automobile if you are overdue for a brake system inspection. This inspection should be performed every 12,000 miles.