Signs It's Time To Have Your Brakes Serviced
To stay safe on the road, your car needs brakes that function properly. You want to have your brakes serviced before they become so worn that they fail and cause you to have an accident. Knowing how often to check your brakes is tricky because more things than mileage come into play. Here are some signs you should take your car to the shop for a brake check.
Brake Warning Light
A warning light may come on while you're driving your car that indicates you should check your brakes. This could be a sign that brake fluid is leaking and low. You should take your car to a shop right away because it is dangerous to drive without brake fluid. Although it isn't common, it is possible for your fluid level to drop suddenly if you hit something on the highway that punctures the fluid line. You may be able to verify if you have a brake fluid leak by looking under your car when it is parked. Brake fluid is clear rather than dark like motor oil or red like transmission fluid. If you see a puddle of thick, light fluid under your car, place cardboard on top of it and pump your brakes to see if more fluid comes gushing out. Check the brake fluid reservoir under the hood if you know where to locate it. If it is low, you should fill it before you drive your car to the shop. …show more content…
This is a safety measure some car manufacturers use to warn you it is time to get new brake pads. However, if you suddenly hear squealing after it rains, it might just be a sign your brakes are wet. If the brake pads are getting bad, they will squeal each time you depress them, even if they are dry. Once your pads are worn away in places, the squealing noise turns into a grinding sound that sounds like metal rubbing on metal. If you hear this noise, you should get to a shop right away. Driving with worn brake pads can cause damage that is expensive to
To stay safe on the road, your car needs brakes that function properly. You want to have your brakes serviced before they become so worn that they fail and cause you to have an accident. Knowing how often to check your brakes is tricky because more things than mileage come into play. Here are some signs you should take your car to the shop for a brake check.
Brake Warning Light
A warning light may come on while you're driving your car that indicates you should check your brakes. This could be a sign that brake fluid is leaking and low. You should take your car to a shop right away because it is dangerous to drive without brake fluid. Although it isn't common, it is possible for your fluid level to drop suddenly if you hit something on the highway that punctures the fluid line. You may be able to verify if you have a brake fluid leak by looking under your car when it is parked. Brake fluid is clear rather than dark like motor oil or red like transmission fluid. If you see a puddle of thick, light fluid under your car, place cardboard on top of it and pump your brakes to see if more fluid comes gushing out. Check the brake fluid reservoir under the hood if you know where to locate it. If it is low, you should fill it before you drive your car to the shop. …show more content…
This is a safety measure some car manufacturers use to warn you it is time to get new brake pads. However, if you suddenly hear squealing after it rains, it might just be a sign your brakes are wet. If the brake pads are getting bad, they will squeal each time you depress them, even if they are dry. Once your pads are worn away in places, the squealing noise turns into a grinding sound that sounds like metal rubbing on metal. If you hear this noise, you should get to a shop right away. Driving with worn brake pads can cause damage that is expensive to