Top Safety Concern: Brake Trouble

When considering safety and vehicles many people's minds go to seatbelts and airbags. While those things are great in the event of an accident it is the brakes that can prevent one from ever occurring. If you experience any of the following signs of brake trouble be sure to visit your local auto repair shop as soon as possible to ensure that you and your car are safe and sound.

Grinding Noises

One of the most common signs that it is time for brake repair is a grinding noise that occurs as you try and slow your vehicle. Grinding or squealing noises are created when the brake pads wear so low that their metal frame is grinding against the metal rotor. If you hear any strange sounds while braking head to the auto shop immediately.

Pulling

When you hit the brakes your car should not jerk left or right. Any sudden movement caused by braking should be addressed immediately. While this could be caused by uneven brake pad wear, it can also be attributed to a malfunctioning wheel cylinder or contaminants in the brake fluid.

Brake Pedal Vibrates

Strange vibrations are a common sign of many types of car trouble. If the brake pedal is vibrating it generally indicates warped rotors. Rotors are what the brake pads squeeze in order to generate the friction that slows your vehicle. If the rotors are warped your vehicle's needed stopping distance will increase because of the lower surface area available to the brake pads.

Soft Brake Pedal

If your car's brake pad becomes easy to push or it rests closer to the floor than it used to, head to the shop. A brake that is easy to push often indicates a dangerous brake fluid leak. Other problems that can cause this include heavily worn pads or air in the brake lines.

ABS Light

The ABS dashboard light, which stands for antilock braking system, is the check engine light of the brakes. If it comes on diagnostics will need to be run to find out exactly what is wrong. A professional auto repair shop will be able to complete diagnostics quickly to figure out the trouble.

If you suspect brake trouble don't hesitate to have it checked out. For expert brake repair in Austin head to Austin Auto Repair. We provide full service auto repair for all makes and models. Give us a call at (512) 865-6217 to request professional auto repair in Austin!

Austin Auto Repair Blog

Written and Published By MORBiZ