Adam's Auto Solution Blog

Operating a car with problematic brakes is extremely dangerous. Therefore, being aware of some of the signs and symptoms that your car brakes could be failing is of vital importance. Fortunately, your vehicle will always tell you when something is wrong. When it comes to car brakes, here are some red flags to watch out for.

Unusual Sounds

Among the most common signs that your car brakes need attention are strange sounds when you step on the brake pedal. Screeching, squealing, and grinding are some of the sounds you will hear when your brakes have a problem. Usually, these sounds indicate a problem with your brake pads. When the pads start wearing out, the outcome is a metal-to-metal contact between your brake discs and rotors that produces the strange sounds when you apply the brakes. If the brake pads are completely worn, you may feel vibrations or pulsations in your brake pedal or steering wheel. You shouldn't let it get to this point because you may end up with damaged brake rotors from the prolonged metal-to-metal contact. This won't be cheap to repair.  

Soft Or Spongy Brake Pedal

This is another issue you may experience when your brakes are failing. Soft or spongy brake pedals are oftentimes caused by presence of air or moisture in your car's braking system. Moisture or air in your braking system is usually a result of low brake fluid levels or improper bleeding. Bleeding your brake lines and ensuring you have the right level of brake fluid should do the trick.

A soft or spongy brake pedal can also be caused by a problematic master cylinder, especially when you notice that the pedal also sinks to the floor of your car. This is usually due to a leak in your master cylinder that causes it to lose its ability to hold pressure. It's important to note that a faulty master cylinder is extremely dangerous because it may easily cause brake failure. Therefore, don't drive the car until the problem is fixed.

Vehicle Pulling

Cars pulling to one side of the road usually indicate a variety of issues such as suspension problems, worn or poorly inflated tyres, or poor wheel alignment. Failing brakes are the other reason your car may pull to the side when you are braking. Brake problems will result in your vehicle pulling because of uneven amounts of pressure being transferred to the wheels. This will happen if your brake pads are worn out unevenly, when you have stuck brake callipers or if your brake hose is collapsed.