Knowing some of the signs of bad brakes can help you to get your brakes checked and fixed well before they actually fail, which is incredibly important. Here are some tips from West Omaha Auto Service that can help.
The Brakes Smell Hot or Burnt
Your car’s brakes can smell hot for a few different reasons. First, brake fluid can be dripping onto hot parts, and that’s a double-edged problem. But the brakes themselves can get too hot, especially if you’ve got other issues with them, and that can cause the brakes to smell hot or burnt.
You’ve Got a Brake Fluid Leak
Brake fluid leaks are bad news because the brake system is mainly hydraulic. It requires brake fluid in order to apply pressure to the brake pads and to stop the car. So if there’s air in the lines or not enough fluid, that’s a huge and unsafe problem to have.
The Brakes Are Making Some Scary Noises
Some of the problems that you could have with your brakes can create some really interesting noises. Noises like squeaks and squeals might be more about moisture in the brake parts than an actual problem. But grinding, screaming, and clunking sounds are ones that you need to have checked out so that you know for sure what’s going on.
The Car Shakes or Pulls When You Brake
If you apply the brakes and the car pulls to the side or starts to vibrate, that’s a sign you can’t ignore. It usually means that there’s something going on with one set of brakes or even the brakes on one side of the car or that rotors are warped. Regardless, this kind of trouble needs to be addressed, because it only gets worse.
Something Just Feels Wrong
Finally, you can’t ignore your own intuition when it comes to your car’s brakes. Sometimes the pedal just feels different, even if you aren’t sure exactly how it feels different to you. Or you notice that the pedal is catching at a different spot than usual. That’s important to follow up on with a brake inspection.
You should never take chances with your car’s brakes. Give us a call today at West Omaha Auto Service in Omaha, NE if you suspect that there’s anything wrong with your car’s brakes. We’ll thoroughly inspect your brake system and let you know what we find. If your brakes do need repair, we’ll let you know exactly what they need in order to keep you safe.