When the brakes in your vehicle start to fail, it is important to have them replaced as soon as possible. The safety of you and your passengers is dependent on your ability to stop your car quickly and efficiently. Nevertheless, if you are like many car owners, you may not know the signs that indicate that you need new brakes. Here are a few of them:

Loud Screeching Noises as You Press Your Brakes

Loud squeals and screeches as you depress your brake pedal often indicate that you need new brakes. When you press your brake pedal, pressure is transferred through the braking system of your car or truck to cause your brake pads to squeeze the rotors of your vehicle.

When brake pads have sufficient padding, the pads press against the metal rotors to slow and stop your vehicle quickly and silently. However, as the brake pads wear away, the metal backing of the pads makes contact with the metal rotors. This metal-on-metal contact causes the loud screeches that you hear.

It is important to have the brake pads replaced as soon as possible once you hear the squeals. By procrastinating, you could damage the rotors of your vehicle.

As the metal of a brake pad backing presses against a metal rotor, the pad forms deep grooves and pits in the rotor. Sometimes, a mechanic can buff or sand these grooves away, but if the damage is too deeply embedded, you will need new rotors.

A Squishy Brake Pedal

When a suitable amount of braking pressure is available, your brake pedal should feel firm when pressed. The braking pressure is largely sustained by adequate brake fluid in your lines. However, when the fluid is contaminated by moisture or is low due to a leak in your brake system, your car or truck is unable to stop quickly. The extra time needed to press your brake pedal to your floorboard could cause a collision.

Once you notice even a small issue with your brakes, have them inspected immediately. They may need to be replaced.

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