Brake Repair- Using Your Sense of Smell

Making sure that your brakes are in good working order is very important. One way that you can tell if you have a problem with your brakes is by using your senses. Your sense of smell can tell you something of what is going on with your vehicle, and with the right knowledge you may be able to tell whether you should take your vehicle to a mechanic immediately or if there is no cause of concern.

If you smell a burning smell coming from your brakes, it could be disconcerting. Rather than panic, though, take the time to make sure that you have not left on your emergency brake, because this could be a reason that you smell this odor. If you check this and there is no problem, then you will want to think about when you last had brake repair. If it was recent, then the odor you smell could simply be the normal breaking in process of brakes. This odor should fade soon after your brakes have been replaced. If it has been some time, then your problem could be with the calipers. You may need to have the hardware around your brakes replaced in order to get rid of the odor that you smell.

If neither of these are the case, then you probably should take your vehicle to a mechanic. There are other issues that could be going on that should be checked. It could be that your brakes are either engaged or stuck.

If you want to find out if your brakes are engaged before going to a mechanic then you can lift up the rear of your vehicle using a jack. With your car in neutral, from here, try to turn those back wheels. They should turn, and it should not be too difficult to do so. If you cannot do it, or it is difficult, then your brakes might be engaged. If jacking up your vehicle seems a little difficult for you to do, then you do have another option. If you can find an open area, drive your vehicle to 30 mph and then remove your foot from the gas. Your car should not slow too quickly. If it does then your brakes might be engaged.

It can be dangerous to take brake repair into your own hands if you have no experience or training in this or if you do not have the right equipment. You would be wise to find a mechanic that you trust to take care of your brake repair issues so that the problem will be cared for correctly. You did your part in using your senses to find you had a problem. If you do not know a mechanic in your area, take some time to search the internet. You will likely find a great number of brake repair shops near you. Ask your friends if they have a favorite place to take their car as well. A referral from someone you trust might be the best way to find a mechanic with whom you can feel confident.

If your senses are telling you their might be a problem with your brakes, do not ignore it. Take into consideration all of the possibilities, and then go forward with this knowledge.