Servicing your brakes is one of the routine maintenance chores you simply cannot ignore. The failure of a brake can truly means the difference between life and death. Since your vehicle’s brakes have a life span, it’s important to keep an eye on them periodically to spot signs of wear, so they can be serviced promptly.
When did you last have your vehicle’s brakes serviced? Probably not the first thing that comes to mind. You might be driving a vehicle with worn or defective brakes. In this article, we will examine five ways you can tell if your brakes need to be serviced. If you’re in Franklin, KY, and in need of professional assistance, exploring options at Franklin KY car dealerships can also provide you with guidance on brake maintenance and overall vehicle safety.
All the systems on your car must be kept in top condition and are fully operative. This is even further main thing when we are talking about safety features. Brakes are a vital part of driving, yet the parts that stop your car when you press the pedal will wear over time. And many will need replacing. This is when you need to ask a garage for brake servicing. It may be valuing your while asking them to carry out a full vehicle check as other systems also suffer from wear and tear.
You may find that some service providers offer you a free online vehicle check that will focus at the age and mileage of the vehicle and suggest services that may need carrying out. Once they have the car, they will perform a physical free car check and then provide you with a quote. Car Analytics, of Birmingham, U.K., offers such a service and much more. And will happily perform a total vehicle check to make sure your car is safe to drive.
Searching service centre for your car? Book your MOT and next service near you.
What is the primary function of a brake pad?
A brake pad’s primary function is to slow or stop a machine or vehicle (car, truck, train, motorcycle, etc.). Brake pads are part of disc brakes used in automobiles and other applications. By using friction, brake pads convert the kinetic energy of the vehicle or machine into thermal energy. Inside a brake calliper are typically two brake pads facing the rotor’s friction surfaces.
When the brakes are applied hydraulically, the calliper squeezes the two pads together onto the spinning disc, slowing or stopping the vehicle or machine.
The brake calliper resembles a hand squeezing the disc. When a brake pad makes contact with a disc, a small amount of friction material (transfer layer) is transferred to the disc surface, causing it to become dull grey.
The brake pad and disc then adhere to each other, causing friction and stopping or slowing the vehicle or machine.
Now, let’s read about the five ways you can tell that your car needs brake servicing.
The 5 significant warning signs indicating the vehicle needs for brake service
1. Screeching sound when braking
Most modern cars come with this built-in warning, which signals that your brake pads are wearing thin. A brake pad is among the main components that take a lot of wear and are consumable. They will absolutely need to be replaced one day, it’s not a question of if. They have a limited life. There is also a small device that creates the screeching when the brake pads have reached their optimum thickness. At this point, you need brake service and should make arrangements with your local garage immediately. Ask them to perform a full vehicle inspection while they have the car. Inspect the car thoroughly.
2. Brake pedal travel gets longer
If you notice you have to push the pedal down further, and it feels softer than you are used to, you have a problem and need to ask your garage for a brake servicing check. They may be able to perform a free online vehicle check to see if there are any age-related problems, but you likely have to wear brake pads or perhaps the air in the brake lines. It needs to be fixed asap, so ask your garage for a time slot to perform a total vehicle check while they fix the brakes.
3. Vibration when braking
Another common problem that may occur after you’ve used the car a lot is warping of parts of the braking system. You’ll notice this by way of the car vibrating when you apply the brakes, and it means brake servicing is due. This will happen mostly in cars that have high mileage on their brakes, so you may want to ask the garage if they provide a free car check to see if there are any further faults.
4. Grinding noise while braking
If you hear a growling or grinding noise when you brake, you hear the sound of metal on metal, and it means your brake pads are completely worn. This is an urgent problem so you should book in for brake servicing right away and not drive the car until it is secure. This may require more than just brake pad replacement. So ask the garage for a full car check while you are there.
Also Read: How often should you service your vehicle?
5. Car pulls to one edge under braking
It could be due to uneven brake wear or a broken braking system on one side of the car. You should contact your garage and request brake servicing because there could be a problem with the brake lines or other system parts.
The above are the sure signs that it’s time for brake servicing on your car. It is commended that you check for a reputable and local service provider that you can trust. If you live in or around Birmingham, U.K., Car Analytics come highly recommended by many regular users. It can offer you a full range of car checks and brake servicing solutions at great prices.
