How Do I Know When I Need New Brakes?

Your brakes are your car’s most important safety system, and as such, you want to make sure they’re as effective as possible. Your brakes are always aging, so it’s smart to check if they’re in good shape whenever you can.

To help drivers in the Fishers, Indianapolis, and Noblesville areas know what to look for with aging brakes, Andy Mohr Buick GMC has explored the signs of worn out brake parts. Keep on reading to know just when you need to change to new brakes.

Longer Stop Times

A common sign that your brakes are generally worn out is that they simply may not be as effective as they once were. Noticing longer stop times is a good indicator that your brake pads or rotors may need to be replaced.

Longer stop times are typically caused simply from wear and tear to the brakes, but there are some common causes for increased wear and tear. Pressing the brakes for long braking periods without interruption can heat up your rotors and pads, leading to more wear. Be aware of your brake use while driving down hills to ensure they don’t get worn down too much.

 

Your Car Pulls To One Side While You Brake 

Sometimes you may hit the brakes and your car will pull you towards one side as you brake. This may not be a problem with your alignment, but rather your car’s brake calipers. In some cases, your brake calipers may simply be applying more pressure than the other brakes, leading to a tendency to pull to one side while braking.

Squealing Or Grinding Sound From Your Brakes

Whether you’ve heard it from someone else’s car, or your car is making this noise right now, a squealing sound often means it’s time to replace your brake pads. This is caused by the built-in wear tabs used to warn you when you need to replace your brake pads.

In some cases, though, you may hear more of a grinding sound. If this is happening, your brakes are worn extensively. Here, your brake pads likely have little to no friction material left and your brakes are cutting into the brake rotor to come to a stop. If this is the case, you’ll have to replace the brake pads, rotors, and maybe other parts.

 

Your Brake Light Turns On

If your brakes are encountering a malfunction, your brake light will likely turn on. In this case, make sure you come to a stop as soon as possible and try to get your car in for service. If your brake system is having a malfunction, it may not be safe to spend any more time on the road than you need to.

A number of things could cause your brake light to turn on, so it’s best to consult your service technician on what’s actually causing the issue.

 

Schedule Brake Replacement Today 

Maintaining healthy brakes is an important part of ensuring safe travel on the open road. To keep our brakes in excellent working order, our team at Andy Mohr Buick GMC is here to replace brakes for Fishers, Indianapolis, and Noblesville drivers.

If you’re due to have your brakes replaced, schedule a service appointment with us online or over the phone today!