Brakes are the most important safety feature of your vehicle. They can wear differently depending on vehicle and driving conditions, so it’s important to know the signs of worn-out brakes. There are five major symptoms of worn brake pads & discs — and vehicle owners should be aware of all five.
Signs of Worn Brakes Pads & Discs — Car Squeals When Stopping
This is one of the most obvious signs that your brakes are in need of replacement. It’s actually a safety feature called a wear indicator. This small piece of metal comes attached to most brake pads. When the padding of friction material has worn past a certain point, this metal hits the disc. You’ll hear a squeal to alert you to the need for brake maintenance.
Vehicle Pulls to One Side When Stopping
This issue can have a variety of causes, but the most common is a stuck brake caliper. When this happens, the brakes never totally disengage, so you’re driving with a constant, slight pressure on the brakes. If you suspect this problem, try putting your hand near your wheels after you’ve just driven your car. Stuck brake calipers can cause heat to emanate from wheels after driving. A stuck caliper can cause a lot of wear on your brakes and transmission, so don’t wait to fix it.
Brake Pedal Feels Different
If your brake pedal is softer than normal or sinks to the floor, it’s a sign of serious trouble. It can mean a leaking master cylinder or brake lines. Check your brake fluid levels, looking especially for leaks near the pedal, and seek professional advice immediately. A pulsating brake pedal, meanwhile, usually indicates warped or out-of-tune brake rotors.
Steering Wheel Shakes When Stopping
This common problem is usually the result of warped front rotors or brake pad impressions. Since pads should be flat and even, impressions or indents can cause a shaky stop. Pad impressions can form when a vehicle sits for a prolonged period of time without being driven. This is especially common in hot temperatures and high humidity. Unless your brakes are rusty, this problem often requires only some refinishing work.
Entire Car Shakes When Stopping
This is usually an issue with the car’s rear brakes. Your rear brake drums might need resurfacing and replacement. These and other brake maintenance tasks can be done at home . But it’s much easier and safer to take it to the professionals. Havoline Xpress Lube of Kernersville is your full-service local automotive shop. We do brake pads, rotors, cylinders, and more. If you’ve got worn brake pads & discs, give us a call at 336-993-7697 or use our easy appointment form. We’ve got the expertise to keep your brakes in top shape and your vehicle and family safe.
My car actually does shake when stopping, even more at sudden stops, and I think it may have something to do with the brake pads, as you said. We’ve had a lot of start and stop traffic lately in the heat, so that may have resulted in the pad impression you mentioned. It’s good to know that my brakes can get away with just refinishing to repair them, and I’ll be sure to take them in to be fixed soon.
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After a good wheel balancing and alignment my steering shake on high speed and when brake applied it vibrate bmw e46 pls help me out. I have change all d tires and steering rack but stilll shake . What is d cause of d shaking
Thanks for bringing to my attention that worn brakes can cause your vehicle to pull to one side. My motorcycle has been pulling to the left when I brake. I don’t want the brakes to wear down even further to the point of danger, so maybe I’ll take my bike into a professional to get those replaced.
My car steering and brake pedal shake when stopping at a speed of 60kmph and above, I have changed all the brake disc and pads need urgent help the tyres are also new