Your car brakes are among the few components that keep each
of your road trips safe. They require proper care in order to work properly
whenever you hit the road. Also with proper care, your car can last longer
before needing professional maintenance. On the other hand, if you neglect your
brakes, you are putting yourself and your family at risk of accident. According
to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 22 percent of road
traffic collisions are caused by faulty brakes. Below are some tips on taking
care of car brakes that you should know.
Pay
Attention to the Noise
Things can get a bit noisy in the car,
especially when you’re speeding down the road. Among the common sources of
noise are cargo rolling inside the trunk and lose parts rattling within the
engine. However, there are certain cases wherein the noise is caused by damage
on the brakes. This is a kind of noise that you should never disregard.
Piercing noises, rubbing, squealing, grinding,
screeching, and other similar noises that occur as you step on the brake pad
could indicate the need to fully inspect the brakes and perform the necessary
repair before you hit the road again. At most, this could mean that the pads
are worn out and need immediate replacing before the damage spreads and cause
the whole suspension system to snap.
“Lowered”
Brake Pedal
You shouldn’t have any problems reaching the
brake pedal with your foot, so if you do, then there’s something wrong with it.
This is something that you shouldn’t ignore for later because it can affect the brakes’ performance. If you’re
not able to stop your car in time, the likelihood of hitting something or
someone on the road is going to be high.
Burning
Smell
Burning smell often indicates irregular spike in
temperature within the engine, but this could also mean damage to the braking
system. Friction may be taking place in areas where it’s not supposed to. Not
dealing with it at the soonest possible time can lead to even bigger problems
down the road.
Steering
Wheel Signals
It may seem like they are unconnected but actually
your steering wheel can tell you a thing or two about the state of your car
brakes. Any irregular vibrations or pulsations on your steering wheel could be
caused by a problem with the rotors, which could ultimately affect your braking
system. The damage can then spread quickly from there, costing you a lot more
in repairs or even replacement.
Check
Brake Warning Light
The easiest way to determine if there is a
problem with your brakes is to check your brake warning light. As long as your
gauges and warning lights are working fine, you can pretty much rely on its
signal when it tells you that your brakes are having a problem. In this
situation, don’t wait any longer to visit a trusted car service brake center,
like McLoughlin Chevrolet, so that you can address the issue right away.
About
McLoughlin Chevrolet:
McLoughlin Chevrolet is your trusted
neighborhood car dealership and service provider. We make it our mission to not
only provide you with good quality cars, whether brand new or second-hand, but
also to assist you in finding good financing deals so you can get a good car
loan even if you have bad credit.
Sources:
Brake
Safety Awareness Month: Stop and Check Your Vehicle’s Most Important System.
CarCare.org.
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