Brake Repair - Troubleshooting Your Brakes Before You Take Them To The Shop

Before you take your car into the shop for brake repair, make sure you try to get a good idea about what's wrong. A little prevention can go a long way in keeping your brakes healthy, and also keeping your car out of the shop. When there's something wrong but you don't know what it is, here are some brake repair troubleshooting tips to help you figure out what's wrong.

Squeaks And Squeals

Usually, the sign that something's wrong comes from the sounds we hear when we step on the brake pedal. In most cases, squealing brakes mean that you've got metal on metal contact, and that's not a good thing. The pads may have worn down and that's what's causing the problem. However, if you've just bought a new car, the squeals may be totally natural. You sometimes get this with a brand new vehicle. If you've got squeals, you should at least have them checked. Metal on metal is not healthy and it will only wear down more if it goes untreated.

Grinding sounds are also not good. If it sounds like something's grinding every time you step on the pedal, this means that your brake pads are just about to call it quits. Take it in to have it looked at right away.

Check Brake Fluid

If your brakes are acting funny, it could be fluid that's needed. If this is all it is, you don't have to take it to the shop for any brake repair; you just have to fill her up. Open the hood and look at the brake master cylinder (the cap will probably be labeled). It's really simple; just unscrew and check the level. If it's under a certain line, add more fluid, close the cap and you're done.

It Should Be Smooth And Easy

When you step on that pedal, it should be smooth and easy. If it doesn't press down well, or if it sticks to the floor, you may have something wrong with the pedal itself. This can be really dangerous because once the pedal goes, you will have no control over your brakes.

If, on the other hand, the pedal is smooth but the stopping of the car is jerky, this could be the rotor. The rotor is the metal disc that the pads grip to stop the car from moving. If it's jerky when you step on it, or it feels like it's gripping the rotor suddenly, this might mean you need to get the rotor replaced. If this is the case, make sure they completely replace it. Some garages will only adjust it.

A great way to become an even better troubleshooter is to learn how the braking mechanism works. Start with your car manual and look online for more information about how your make and model's braking system works. This will help you understand what's wrong when they don't work the way they should. If you've got a problem, take your car into the shop for brake repair immediately. This is essential for making sure that your vehicle is safe and roadworthy. Brake repair could even save your life or the lives of those around you.