No one wants to be in a situation where you need to stop, you put your foot on the brake, and nothing seems to happen. There are several pretty obvious signs that your brakes need servicing. We know about brake repair in Murrieta, CA. Some things to look for include:
Your brake pedal seems spongy or mushy
Your brake pedal seems slow to respond – you put your foot on the brake pedal, and it seems like nothing happens for a few seconds
A yellow brake light lights up on your dashboard, which usually indicates a potential problem with the anti-lock brake system (ABS)
You hear a high-pitched continuous squealing sound when you brake
A red brake light lights up on your dashboard, which might indicate a brake system imbalance
You hear a grinding noise when you brake
The vehicle pulls to one side when you brake
The steering wheel shakes when you brake
How brakes work:
The typical brake system consists of disk brakes in front and either disk or drum brakes in the rear connected by a system of tubes and hoses that link the brake at each wheel to the master cylinder.
When you step on the brake pedal, you are actually pushing against a plunger in the master cylinder, which forces hydraulic oil (brake fluid) through a series of tubes and hoses to the braking unit at each wheel
On a disk brake, the fluid from the master cylinder is forced into a caliper where it presses against a piston. The piston, in-turn, squeezes two brake pads against the disk (rotor), which is attached to the wheel, forcing it to slow down or stop.
With drum brakes, fluid is forced into the wheel cylinder, which pushes the brake shoes out so that the friction linings are pressed against the drum, which is attached to the wheel, causing the wheel to stop.
Warning Signs of Potential Brake Problems
Worn Brake Pads: With constant use, parts in the brake system will eventually wear down. Because brake pads are pushed against the wall of the rotor and produce friction, this causes them to wear down. If the brake pads wear below a quarter of an inch, then it is time to replace them. Checking this is easy enough. The best way to know if the pad is worn is to look at it through the space on the wheel.
A high pitched sound each time the brakes are applied will also indicate worn brake pads.
Replacing brake pads regularly will ensure that damage to the rotor is avoided. Allowing the pads to regularly wear down too much or having dirt or sand caught in the brake pad can cause grooving of the rotor when the brake is applied. This cause irreparable damage and then the rotor will need replacement.
Worn Rotors/ Worn Discs: What are signs that rotors are warped or damaged? A grinding or growling sound will indicate that the pads are completely worn down and are scratching and scoring the rotor. Brake pedal pulsation also is an indicator of a warped rotor.
There is a minimum, specified thickness for rotors. If the problem is detected early enough, an experienced machinist can “turn” the rotor to remove the damaged surface while still leaving a safe rotor thickness. However, wearing it down to the minimum compromises the safety of your vehicle’s braking system and the only recourse is replacing the rotor. This could be a more expensive fix. This is why it is wise to replace your pads (an inexpensive repair) at the early signs of wear.
Any time you notice the symptoms above, it’s a good idea to have our certified technicians check your brakes. We are experts in brake repair, brake pads, brake rotors,
and preventing brake problems. Brake Repair in Murrieta.
Call us at 951-461-2507 to schedule an appointment for car brake problem diagnosis and brake repair and also all car repair in Murrieta, CA or Schedule An Appointment Online.